DEPUTY Home Affairs Minister Njabulo Nzuza is on a campaign to urge parents to register their children within 30 days of birth.
During a visit to Mamelodi Regional Hospital in Tshwane yesterday, Nzuza visited the maternity ward and gave two mothers their children’s birth certificates.
He asked mums not to leave a hospital without birth certificates. The hospital issued 17 certificates on Saturday and Sunday.
“This is the gateway to a person’s identity. Over the years we’ve established Home Affairs offices at hospitals.”
Nzuza said if the mother left a child without a birth certificate, they’d later struggle to get welfare and an ID.
“All children must be registered within 30 days. This is one of the big hospitals and sees over 10 000 births every year,” he said.
“We want to enhance our relationship and make sure we continue to register births in hospitals.”
Nzuza pleaded with fathers to make sure they were part of the process.
“There are those who don’t qualify, like children of foreign nationals. What we do then is issue a notice of birth,” he said.
“We’re not giving them citizenship but certificates that the baby was born in South Africa.”
He said the Constitution stated that no one should be chased away from a hospital on the basis of not being a citizen.
Nzuza said almost 20% of births were to foreigne nationals.
Hospital acting CEO Dr Tebatso Tebeila said the visit showed the department was committed to doing its job.
New mother Julia Mokoena (45) told Daily Sun: “Thanks to Home Affairs for issuing me with my son’s birth certificate.
“I’ll share the good news with everyone back home.”
