Gqeberha:Sixty-five individuals have taken a significant step towards securing their legal identity by obtaining official birth certificates during a Department of Home Affairs outreach in Motherwell on Wednesday. The event was held at the Raymond Mhlaba Sports Centre, where Home Affairs Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza oversaw the ceremony.
According to South African Government News Agency, the outreach is part of a nationwide initiative to address the Late Registration of Birth. This effort aims to help individuals establish their legal identity, thereby enabling access to essential government and social services.
The Services on Wheels initiative was instrumental in bringing necessary services closer to residents who had not been registered at birth. The department emphasizes the importance of bridging the gap between remote communities and government resources, allowing more people to secure their legal identities and exercise their rights fully as South African citizens.
The government encourages parents to register their children's births within 30 days, which can be done at a Department of Home Affairs office by a parent, guardian, or any legally responsible person. For South Africans living abroad, birth registrations can be completed at the nearest embassy or mission. Registrations made after the 30-day period are considered late and require additional documentation.
