KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Ncube-Dube has described the allocation of new Home Affairs mobile trucks as a game-changer in the provision of government services.
Dube-Ncube made the remarks when she received the provincial allocation of Home Affairs mobile offices that were unveiled by President Cyril Ramaphosa in Mokopane, Limpopo, this week.
READ | Mobile Home Affairs offices to bring convenience for Mokopane residents
The unveiling of 100 new mobile offices on Tuesday is part of the Home Affairs Hybrid Access Model, which expands services to areas, where the department footprints is limited.
On Friday, Nomusa-Dube received 16 of the 100 mobile offices allocated to KwaZulu-Natal.
Speaking at the event held at Hoy Park Stadium in Durban, Dube-Ncube said the day marks yet another milestone in the quest to bring dignity to the people of the province.
‘What we are seeing here today is just another milestone for us [and] our people in the townships and far-flung areas who have not been able to reach Home
Affairs. Today, they will be able to reach Home Affairs.
‘This is a game-changer in the provision of Home Affairs services. We are here to wage a war against the inaccessibility and unavailability of government services for our people,’ Dube-Ncube said.
Dube-Ncube said with the allocation of the new fleet, people can now walk to a Home Affairs office and apply for identity documents and passports.
The Premier said many people have been complaining about long queues at Home Affairs offices, especially in Umngeni, Durban central and Pinetown.
‘With these mobile offices, our people… [can] wait for the trucks to come near their areas where they will be able to do their ID and passport applications or birth certificate registrations. Each truck is fully equipped and caters for people with disabilities and the elderly,’ Dube-Ncube said.
IMAGES | Mobile offices handed over in KZN
Home Affairs mobile office handover. Home Affairs mobile office handover. Home Affairs mobile office handover.
She said with serv
ices being brought closer to where people reside, this will curb the unauthorised practice of people paying for spots in queues outside the offices.
The additional trucks will bring the total number of mobile trucks in the province to 30. Members of community safety will accompany the trucks, to ensure their protection from the criminals, while bringing services in various areas.
The Premier expressed her appreciation to the President and Motsoaledi for allocating mobile offices to the province.
She said the relevant provincial MEC will collect and dispatch the mobile offices to the districts.
Provincial Manager for Home Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal, Cyril Mncwabe, said the trucks will be distributed to Home Affairs offices located in five district municipalities.
Source: South African Government News Agency