Systems will be functional – minister

HOME Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says their IT system downtime continues to concern the department but all systems will be functional on registration weekend.

The department’s system is known for often being off-line, resulting in delays in the issuing of identity documents for many.

However, the minister said yesterday, during a media briefing, that 49 technicians would be dispatched to assist with any system issues.

“System downtime is often the weakest link and gives us sleepless nights. We have deployed 49 technicians around the whole of the country to deal with the matter,” he said.

Motsoaledi said 3 093 Home Affairs employees would be on duty over the registration weekend to offer various services.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) would register voters today and tomorrow.

To register to vote at voting stations, one would need an identity document or other documentation, said Motsoaledi. His department was ready to assist those who had lost their IDS or passports.

Services to be offered included the issuing of temporary identity certificates, and the collection of green ID books or smart card IDS.

Other services would include making amendments to particulars on identity documents. Passports would also be issued.

Some 3 093 staff members would be deployed across all

Home Affairs offices in the country.

The minister said in addition to the above number, 200 staff members would work from the head office in Tshwane to assist with archive collections when needed.

A breakdown of Home Affairs offices that will be operating this weekend:

Gauteng: 43 offices would be operational, 29 modernised offices with generator capacity, and several bank branches would be opened.

Kwazulu-natal would have 56 operating offices with 29 having generator capacity and 27 without. There would be one mobile site in the province.

Western Cape: 28 offices would be operational, 27 with generator capacity and four banks would offer services. There would be 8 mobile sites.

Eastern Cape: 54 offices would be operational, along with 32 with generator capacity and 14 mobile sites.

Limpopo would operate 42 offices, while 20 would not have generator capacity.

Mpumalanga would operate 31 offices and 20 would have generator capacity, while 10 mobile sites would be available in the province.

North West: 18 offices operational, while 17 would have generator capacity, with six mobile offices.

Free State: 21 offices, 13 with generator capacity and 7 mobile offices.

The Northern Cape would have 16 operating offices and 9 mobile sites.