An Eastridge mother is battling to get her Grade 12 daughter a smart identity (ID) card.
Petula Swarts applied for her daughter Jade’s ID card two years ago but discovered that another boy has her ID number.
Jade turns 18 in July and needs her ID card to apply to sit for the national senior certificate examination later this year.
She also needs it to apply to university or for bursaries but can do neither because she only has a birth certificate.
Ms Swarts said when she followed up with the department, they were told that a teenager in another part of the city had Jade’s name, surname and ID number.
“According to them I applied for amendments to the original number, which I did not do.
“I’ve been to the doctor for a medical report to confirm that Jade is a girl but still nothing has been forthcoming,” she said.
Ms Swarts said the long queues and the department unable to answer her questions has kept her out of work.
“I have to stay out of work to stand in a queue at 4am and make phone calls because no one can answer me,” she said.
Ms Swarts said in recent weeks she has called the department almost every other day.
“They promised they would return my calls. I am still waiting,” she said.
At the time of going to print the department had not yet replied to the Plainsman’s media enquiry, which was initially sent on Wednesday April 13.
We have also called the department’s Mitchell’s Plain office manager who said a report had been submitted to head office.
We followed up again this week for an explanation but there has still been no response from the department.