PHUMZA Velem (35) has been struggling to get an ID since the break-in at her house in 2015.
Since then Home Affairs has sent her from pillar to post.
“I was shocked when the official said I shared my ID number with someone else,” said Phumza from Never Never squatter camp in Cape Town.
“I was told to register as someone who had never had an ID before.
“I thought the process would be easy, but until now I haven’t got my ID even though I have done everything they asked me to do.”
Phumza cannot take care of her four kids who suffer because of this problem because she can’t get a child support grant.
“I depend on people to give me food and clothes but that won’t last forever because those people have lost their jobs and are struggling to take care of their own families,” she said.
“If I get an ID, I will be able to take care of my kids, but for now I’m stuck. I can’t even apply for EPWP jobs without an ID.”
Community leader Nowethu Sawutana said they couldn’t recommend Phumza when there were job opportunities because she didn’t have an ID.
“I wish the Department of Home Affairs could solve this problem so she can get her life back,” Sawutana said.
Home Affairs spokesman Samuel Plaatjies said Phumza needs to visit her nearest Home Affairs branch to initiate the process of rectifying her identity status by applying to resolve her duplicate status.
“According to available records, no such application has been submitted to date,” he said.
Phumza will have to submit her maternity certificate, certificate from primary school, and baptismal certificate.
