President Cyril Ramaphosa officially opened a new, purpose-built Department of Home Affairs office in Mokopane, Limpopo, and unveiled 100 new mobile offices on Tuesday.
The inauguration ceremony marked a significant expansion of the Department’s services, particularly in remote regions.
The unveiling was attended by, among others, Limpopo Premier Stanley Mathabatha and Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
Ramaphosa said the unveiling of the mobile offices was a key component of Home Affairs’ Hybrid Access Model, aimed at broadening services in areas with limited Department presence.
“The programme we are launching is called Home Affairs on Wheels, and it is going to change the provision of Home Affairs services for the better across South Africa. We don’t just want to make it easier. We want to make it faster and we want to make it cheaper,” said Ramaphosa
“For many people, especially in the rural areas, travelling to reach government services can take a lot of time and be expensive. With these mobile offices, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on transport to go into town to apply for services from the Department of Home Affairs. It has now become easier because Home Affairs is coming to you,” added Ramaphosa
The newly opened office in Mokopane boasted a range of amenities, including shaded waiting areas and ample parking, making it a convenient hub for accessing Home Affairs services.
Ramaphosa said the Department of Home Affairs will soon be unveiling a kiosk model that allows you to access services just like withdrawing money at an ATM.
The walk-in kiosk will allow things like applying for replacement copies of a birth, marriage or death certificate and to apply for a passport or a smart ID card.