South Africa April 2005 |
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| Foreigner with citizenship struggles to get ID, (Daily Dispatch, 2005-04-27):-A Cameroon man is struggling to obtain his South African identity document after he acquired permanent citizenship a year ago. "People say foreigners of African origin bribe people to be in this country, but I have tried to do the right thing by applying for a legitimate South African citizenship. But the Home Affairs seems to give us special treatment," said William Mangomokofe. Mangomokofe, 41, showed the Daily Dispatch the two documents which confirmed that the East London Home Affairs office had received two applications from him for an ID document. His first application was on March 31, last year, and the second on October 11. Mangomokofe said he had been told to apply again because his name did not appear on the computer system. He said he had not been given any further explanation. - "I don't know whether my application had some missing details that I should rectify, but no one tells me anything there." Home Affairs spokesperson Leslie Mashokwe said it was not common for a foreigner with a valid residence permit to have to wait for longer than a year to receive his South African ID. He said the normal waiting period was two months, and promised to investigate. Mangomokofe said he had spoken to an official in charge of the ID section yesterday, but she told him she could not help him if his name was not on the computer. Mangomokofe, who used to work for a trade company, said Home Affairs had failed him. His former colleague, Diana Crock, said their company had also tried to help him to get and ID. He is currently working for a church here. Mangomokofe wants to get a driver's licence and a life insurance policy for his wife and child, but this is impossible without a valid ID. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |