Home Affairs blames unserviceable addresses as nearly 377,060 ID numbers remain blocked

The Department of Home Affairs says unserviceable addresses are hampering its efforts to contact people whose identity numbers remain blocked on the National Population Register. Minister Leon Schreiber told Parliament that 377,060 identity numbers remain blocked as the department works through a court-ordered process to correct or verify records.

Why thousands of IDs remain blocked

Responding to parliamentary questions from IFP MP Busaphi Machi, Minister Schreiber said the department had been unable to locate many affected people because of addresses that he described as unserviceable. He said:

“Locating them on the National Population Register did not yield any desired results and compelled the department to look for alternative approaches for better reach.”

Court orders and substituted service

The Gauteng High Court previously found that placing markers against identity numbers without a fair administrative process was unconstitutional and invalid. The court gave the department a window to review and correctly reflect particulars for identity numbers marked on the register, and later granted further time.

Schreiber said the department applied for substituted service and received court approval to use substituted service under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act. In Parliament he explained that:

“Substituted services use various communication platforms and mediums for far wider reach in all nine provinces of the Republic.”

The court has given the department until March 2027 to resolve the remaining cases.

Progress made and categories of blocked records

Schreiber described the current total of blocked records 377,060 identity numbers as reflecting “very significant progress over the past 18 months.” He told MPs that in December 2025 the number stood at 384,189, down from 702,267 recorded when the court delivered its judgment on the matter.

He gave a breakdown of the remaining blocked records:

“Out of the total identity numbers, which remain blocked, 198,336 (52,6%) are under the category of Duplicate Identity Records and 7,963 (2%) cases are under South West Africa category and these still require citizenship/status determination.”

How the department is handling representations

Schreiber said the department is following approved Standard Operating Procedures and the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act when resolving blocked IDs. He urged affected people to visit department offices in person for representation, interviews with immigration officers and biometric recording, stating:

“Thorough investigations and verification processes ensure that lawful South African citizens are not incorrectly deprived of access to a valid identity number.”

Last month the department launched a nationwide campaign to assist individuals whose IDs were blocked prior to November 2022. Department spokesperson Thulani Mavuso said affected individuals were invited to submit representations explaining why their identity numbers should be unblocked and that

“The department is committed to ensuring that all affected individuals are afforded a fair opportunity to present their case.”

Unblocked records to date

Mavuso said the number of unblocked IDs, including those classified as duplicates, stands at 2.2 million to date. The department has said that, where investigations show an ID was issued to someone who does not qualify for inclusion on the National Population Register or contains incorrect particulars, the record may be cancelled.

Reporting based on an IOL politics story published on July 17, 2026.