Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Two young Midrand children are facing a bleak future as their mother's long wait for an identity document to be processed continues with no end in sight.
The children's mother, Selina Mmatseleng Rampjapedi, applied for an ID at the Department of Home Affairs' offices in Kempton Park last year.
Rampjapedi was issued with a receipt on February 18 2005 confirming that she had applied for an identity document.
"I was born on a farm in the Sekgosese area of Limpopo. I have never had a birth certificate," Rampjapedi said.
"I tried to register five-year-old Mpho at a pre-school in Tembisa this year but she was turned away because she doesn't have a birth certificate.
"I couldn't register her birth because I don't have an ID.
"Mapula, 11 months, will suffer the same fate if the ID is not processed and Mpho won't be able to go school next year either," she said.
Mpho and Mapula's father, Abram Rakabe, said: "The two children were born at Tembisa Hospital. The admin staff at the hospital didn't issue birth certificates to the children because their mother doesn't have an identity document.
"We have done everything required by law. It is so hard to understand why people who are not South Africans get IDs so easily and we can't.
"The whole process of trying to get an identity document in South Africa is a nightmare.
"There are many people born and bred on the farms in Limpopo and other provinces who do not have IDs. Officials from the government must visit the farms.
"I just hope that the Minister of Home Affairs and will come to our rescue, I'm now pinning our hopes on her."
Jacky Mashapu, home affairs spokesman, said: "We have investigated the matter. Her form is in the system but we are going to fast-track it and she will get it soon."
Children become victims too
Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Two young Midrand children are facing a bleak future as their mother's long wait for an identity document to be processed continues with no end in sight.
The children's mother, Selina Mmatseleng Rampjapedi, applied for an ID at the Department of Home Affairs' offices in Kempton Park last year.
Rampjapedi was issued with a receipt on February 18 2005 confirming that she had applied for an identity document.
"I was born on a farm in the Sekgosese area of Limpopo. I have never had a birth certificate," Rampjapedi said.
"I tried to register five-year-old Mpho at a pre-school in Tembisa this year but she was turned away because she doesn't have a birth certificate.
"I couldn't register her birth because I don't have an ID.
"Mapula, 11 months, will suffer the same fate if the ID is not processed and Mpho won't be able to go school next year either," she said.
Mpho and Mapula's father, Abram Rakabe, said: "The two children were born at Tembisa Hospital. The admin staff at the hospital didn't issue birth certificates to the children because their mother doesn't have an identity document.
"We have done everything required by law. It is so hard to understand why people who are not South Africans get IDs so easily and we can't.
"The whole process of trying to get an identity document in South Africa is a nightmare.
"There are many people born and bred on the farms in Limpopo and other provinces who do not have IDs. Officials from the government must visit the farms.
"I just hope that the Minister of Home Affairs and will come to our rescue, I'm now pinning our hopes on her."
Jacky Mashapu, home affairs spokesman, said: "We have investigated the matter. Her form is in the system but we are going to fast-track it and she will get it soon."
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