Home Affairs long queues, technical glitches hamper people from getting temporary IDs

JOHANNESBURG - Long queues and usual technical glitches have hampered people from getting temporary IDs at some Home Affairs offices.

Hours have been extended at Home Affairs for Tuesday and Wednesday to allow people to get documents such as temporary IDs, to allow them to vote.

On Monday, some Home Affairs offices battled long queues and system failures, and people who collected their temporary IDs at the Randburg, Johannesburg CBD, and Edenvale branches, among others, endured a long wait.

Speaking to Eyewitness News during her third hour of waiting, Sinegugu Gumede said Home Affairs must improve its communication with the public.

"I already took time off work to be here. It would’ve been nice to know that I could’ve come after work."

Anticipating an influx of people, the department said though its offices cannot assure citizens that issues won’t arise, steps to mitigate them are in place.