The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is spreading the festive cheer. Joburgers looking to apply for smart IDs or passports have something to smile about this festive season. The department has officially extended its operating hours. With the holiday rush in full swing and many people preparing to travel or update personal records, the timing couldn't be better. Selected Home Affairs offices will now be open until 18:00, which is great news, especially in a congested city such as Johannesburg, where millions of South Africans reside.
"On these days, offices will close at 18:00, instead of 16:00. Services offered during the extended hours will be available at offices equipped to process Smart ID Cards and Passports," states Home Affairs.
South Africans know that a visit to the Home Affairs can turn into a nightmare. If you don't arrive early in the morning, you risk being turned away without assistance. So, the announcement comes as a relief. Now residents have extra time to sort out those essential documents without worrying about taking time off work or rearranging their entire day.
This means that if you were planning to travel and was dealing with expired or lost documents that need urgent attention, now you have more time to get things sorted.
The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, says: “We remain committed to providing accessible and people-centred services. With our offices operating on extended hours ahead of and during the festive season, I encourage South Africans to make use of the longer opening hours to ensure that their essential documents are up to date, including travel documents.”
The Minister adds: “The extended hours we are offering will go a long way in assisting people to get the documents they need to spend precious time with friends and family, and to prepare for the New Year.”
To make the experience even smoother, the department has asked applicants to use the Branch Appointment Booking System (BABS) to book application or collection appointments.
The news comes a month after the department announced more facilities for Smart ID and passport applications. Read that story here.
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