Cape Town — The Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, has announced that Home Affairs offices will remain open on Saturdays 12 September to 12 October to give matriculants enough time to prepare for their final exams.
In a statement, the department will prioritise matriculants and provide key services such as the issuing of temporary Identity Certificates, ID collections and applications.
The Minister of Basic Education, Minister Siviwe Gwarube has commended Home Affairs for the timely intervention.
“This is an excellent example of how government departments can work together to prioritise the needs of our learners. Matriculants are at a crucial point in their academic journey and ensuring that they have valid identification for their exams is critical,” she said.
#DBENews | The Minister of Basic Education welcomes Home Affairs’ Saturday operating hours for matriculants’ ID applications. #Matric2024 pic.twitter.com/xt3aDt0ibh
— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) September 20, 2024
Gwarube added that the initiative is a strong show of the joint commitment to the success of learners as they prepare for the next stage of their lives.
Home Affairs offices will stay open from 8am to 1pm for matriculants to apply for and collect IDs.
“This initiative will not only support the learners who are in class during the week but also alleviate the pressure on weekday services, providing easier access for those in need,” the department said.
The Basic Education Department also urged all matriculants who need IDs to take advantage of the extended time on offer as it is a critical step toward ensuring every learner is fully prepared for their exams.
With the start of the matric exams 1 month away, I encourage all parents/guardians of matric learners who don’t have ID’s as yet, to please make use of these extended operating hours and take your child 16 years and above, to your nearest @HomeAffairsSA branch.
No learner should… https://t.co/yAOna1F843 pic.twitter.com/npIYocFhip
— Siviwe Gwarube (@Siviwe_G) September 20, 2024
According to IOL, Schreiber said Home Affairs offices across all nine provinces will remain open on Saturdays. He said the initiative will enable matrculants to take their first steps to economic empowerment.
“We encourage matriculants who are waiting on their IDs, along with their parents, to make their way to the nearest Home Affairs or where they applied.”
Additionally, Schreiber encouraged people who have applied for identification documents and have received their SMS notifications, to use the opportunity and visit their nearest offices to collect their documents.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
