Pretoria - The Department of Home Affairs has apologised to a 70-year-old woman who, when trying to apply for an ID, was told to bring her parents to prove her nationality.
During a media briefing on Thursday, Director-General Mkuseli Apleni apologised to Paulinah Ragatji, adding that the department would do everything in its power to ensure she received an ID.
Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and the rest of the department were "distressed" to learn of the incident.
Ragatji, who went to a Home Affairs office in Limpopo to apply for an ID, was reportedly turned away and told that she would need to bring her parents to the offices to prove her nationality.
Processes were already underway to help Ragatji obtain the document, Apleni added.
The director-general spoke out against the actions of the official who turned Ragatji away, warning that the official could face a disciplinary hearing.
"We condemn in the strongest terms the reported conduct and behaviour of the Home Affairs official implicated and commit to investigating the matter with a view to instituting the necessary disciplinary proceedings," he said.
Every citizen, particularly senior citizens, had the right to be treated with dignity and respect by Home Affair officials, Apleni stressed, saying this was not a privilege but a hard-earned freedom.
"Accordingly, we will not tolerate such appalling disrespect of all people by such uncaring officials in the employ of the state," he said.
Meanwhile, with Youth Day around the corner, Apleni called on the youth of the country, who were 16 years and older, to apply for their IDs, saying the document was their passport to a better life.
The department will deploy a number of mobile units to venues where Youth Day was being commemorated in order to provide Home Affairs services to those who required them.
At the national event, which will take place at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, the department will deploy four mobile units.
