Home Affairs launches national drive to help people with blocked IDs

The Department of Home Affairs has launched a nationwide campaign to assist people whose identity numbers were blocked before November 2022, inviting them to submit representations by 10 July 2026 to explain why their IDs should be unblocked.

Who is being invited to respond

The department said, in an announcement on Monday, that affected individuals are being invited under Section 3 of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) of 2000 to submit written or oral representations explaining why their identity numbers should be restored.

How and where to submit representations

People with blocked identity numbers must visit any Home Affairs office excluding refugee reception centres and bank branches to submit representations by the 10 July 2026 deadline. The department warned that failure to do so may result in the cancellation of the affected identity numbers following the completion of the administrative process.

Why IDs were blocked and progress made

Home Affairs said a number of identity numbers were blocked under Section 19 of the Identification Act (Act No. 68 of 1997). Reasons include duplicate identity records and cases where a person’s status still requires verification. The department said it has unblocked 2 202 368 identity numbers to date.

Documents people should bring

Individuals appearing before Home Affairs are encouraged to bring any available documentation that may assist in confirming identity, citizenship or legal status. The announcement listed possible supporting documents, including:

• original birth certificate
• clinic card
• confirmation of birth
• hospital records
• parents’ identity documents
• school records
• affidavits from parents or informants
• traditional authority letters and other supporting evidence

Possible outcomes of the verification process

The department said its verification process may result in the cancellation of identity documents or records where investigations show they were improperly issued or obtained. The announcement specified circumstances in which action may be taken, including where IDs were:

• issued to people who do not qualify for inclusion in the National Population Register
• found to contain incorrect personal details
• obtained through fraud or misrepresentation
• forged, altered, stolen or unlawfully manipulated

The department urged affected individuals to respond promptly and to use the opportunity to regularise their status.