Miscommunication about the cancellation of department of home affairs mobile clinic services in Kayamandi led to “very few residents” arriving for assistance recently. This is according to Wiseman Zondiwe, director at Kuyasa Horizon Empowerment Centre, where the services were offered.
There was a low turnout of residents seeking assistance with temporary IDs and birth certificates at Kuyasa Horizon Empowerment Centre on 9 April. According to Wiseman Zondiwe, this was due to poor communication from the department of home affairs. PHOTO: Nicola Amon
The services, aimed at providing free replacements of temporary IDs and birth certificates to disaster victims in Kayamandi from 8 April to 10 April, only commenced on 9 April due to level-9 storm warnings on 8 April, said Zondiwe.
ANC council chief whip Monwabisi Rataza said he asked councillors to inform the affected community members of the cancellation of services on 8 April. According to Zondiwe, however, this communication did not reach members of the community.
Early departure due to low turnout
The Kuyasa non-governmental organisation (NGO) was chosen as a location because “municipal properties were not available for dates proposed”, said Rataza.
While the services were scheduled to be on-site from 08:30 to 16:00 on a post on the Kayamandi community Facebook page, they left at 14:00 instead due to the low turnout on 9 April, said Lesley Simpson, manager for mobile clinics from the home affairs offices in Paarl.
“Lots of people came [on 8 April], but [the mobile clinics] weren’t here. If they can communicate more with the community, then more people will come,” Zondiwe said.
Kayamandi community members have been severely affected by disasters and fires since 2020, according to Monwabisi Rataza, ANC council chief whip. Mobile clinic services offered by the department of home affairs aimed to assist residents with obtaining temporary IDs and birth certificates, he said. PHOTO: Nicola Amon
Special waiver for disaster victims
The mobile services were initiated by a special waiver application issued by the ANC council caucus. The waiver applied to victims of all disasters and fires in Kayamandi since 2020, according to Rataza.
Community members in Kayamandi fell victim to fires on 6 April, losing important documents and possessions as a result. This is according to Kuyasa Horizon Empowerment Centre’s director, Wiseman Zondiwe. PHOTO: supplied, Isobel du Plessis
The waiver ensured the reissuing of temporary identification documents and birth certificates for all victims of disasters in Kayamandi since 2020, cost-free, according to Rataza.
The ANC council caucus had been attempting to provide the mobile service since 2020, but had not been successful, said Rataza. “It’s the first time we applied for [the special waiver] and the response was swift,” he said.
By the time of publication, the department of home affairs had not responded to SMF News’ queries.