Cape Town – The Department of Home Affairs’ online system was offline nationwide on Friday due to a “cable breakage”.
In a statement, the department said: “This unfortunate incident is caused by a cable breakage which connects to the State Information Technology Agency (SITA). A team of Home Affairs and SITA technicians is working tirelessly to ensure that the cable breakage is resolved.”
The department said that the development meant, therefore, that most Home Affairs services were not available.
ALSO READ | SA fines Zimbabwean bus operator R420 000 over passengers without passports
“Due to this network outage, Home Affairs services are currently limited to passport collections; and handwritten death certificates will be issued for burial purposes, with computerised certificates to be issued when the system is back online.
“We are waiting for SITA to give us information on the estimated time of restoration of the system,” said the department, as it apologised for the inconvenience caused.
Affected Citizens took to Twitter to voice their frustrations.
Take a look at some of the Twitter reactions below:
Department of Home Affairs Soweto, been waiting for hours in the line and they say the system is offline. I even made an appointment but it means NOTHING. They said if the system doesn’t come online you have to book a new slot and come another day. With what time??? pic.twitter.com/yOdcK4R8eE
— Es (@Esibossman) April 1, 2022
I’m at Home affairs Centurion since 8:00 systems are offline. New born babies and grannies are starving pic.twitter.com/W62on5EeRT
— NQ Zondi (@NqNzuza) April 1, 2022
Home Affairs Alberton Officials coming to tell us “The System is still offline, Whether you want go or wait it’s up to you”…. There they are…..@HomeAffairsSA pic.twitter.com/TOECBUjtNi
— The ??? Black ?Afrikaaner (@Brian_Marawu) April 1, 2022
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Picture: Twitter/@HomeAffairsSA
Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
