Home Affairs urges public to utilise extended Saturday hours for ID collection and services

In a bid to expedite the collection of identity documents (IDs) and provide essential services to the public, the Department of Home Affairs has announced extended operating hours for its offices on Saturdays from 06 April to 25 May 2024.

The offices will be open for five hours each Saturday, from 8am to 1pm (excluding 27 April 2024) offering services that include ID collection, facilitation of new applications and issuance of Temporary Identity Certificates. Moreover, the offices will address challenges related to duplicates, amendments, rectifications, and cases of mistaken ‘dead-alive’ identities, provided the required supporting documents are presented.

In a move to reach remote areas, mobile Home Affairs offices are set to return to deliver IDs to locations where applications were initially received. Local offices, in collaboration with stakeholders including councillors, will communicate the specific dates, times, and venues for these mobile office visits. These mobile units will operate in support of the identified local offices.

Clients are now encouraged to book appointments for ID collection using the Branch Appointment Booking System (BABS), accessible via the Department of Home Affairs website at www.dha.gov.za through the BABS link. However, walk-in visits without prior booking are also welcomed.

Extending an invitation to the public, particularly first-time young applicants,Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza said: “We invite people who have applied for their IDs, particularly young people who are first-time applicants, to come to our offices to collect their documents. This initiative gives people more options to collect their enabling documents.”

Furthermore, clients who have received SMS notifications confirming the availability of their identification documents are urged to seize this opportunity and visit their nearest Home Affairs office to collect these critical documents.