Home Affairs to replace documents lost in KZN floods

✔ Fact Checked by TDPel News Desk

By Samantha Allen

Published: April 21, 2022 | 2:53 PM GMT

The Department of Home Affairs is ready to assist with the replacement of identity documents lost during last week’s devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal, says the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster.

Speaking on behalf of the cluster during a briefing on Thursday, Police Minister Bheki Cele said the replacement of documents will be at no cost to the affected communities.

The JCPS said Home Affairs will replace birth certificates, Temporary Identity Certificates, and IDs of people affected by the disaster.

Cele said: “This service is available only to members of communities who have lost their documents during this disaster. Any person who lost their documents at another time will not be covered by this intervention.”

He said Home Affairs is working with the City of eThekwini and the district municipalities of ILembe, Ugu and Umgungundlovu to identify people who need assistance.

Cele said local councillors will verify the names of people supplied to the Disaster Management Operations Centre, after which they will be forwarded to Home Affairs for processing.

Services to some of these communities commenced on Thursday.

Cele said Home Affairs has largely escaped major losses to its infrastructure, with 76 of its 77 offices in KZN fully operational.

Only the Chatsworth office is not currently operational due to flooding. Here, a mobile unit has since been deployed to offer services.

Between 8 and 19 April, the Department of Home Affairs had assisted 28 217 people.

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About Samantha Allen

Samantha Allen is a seasoned journalist and senior correspondent at TDPel Media, specializing in the intersection of maternal health, clinical wellness, and public policy. With a background in investigative reporting and a passion for data-driven storytelling, Samantha has become a trusted voice for expectant mothers and healthcare advocates worldwide. Her work focuses on translating complex medical research into actionable insights, covering everything from prenatal fitness and neonatal care to the socioeconomic impacts of healthcare legislation. At TDPel Media, Samantha leads the agency's health analytics desk, ensuring that every report is grounded in accuracy, empathy, and scientific integrity. When she isn't in the newsroom, she is an advocate for community-led wellness initiatives and an avid explorer of California’s coastal trails.