South African citizens who lost their IDs during the recent floods and tornado will be reissued with new ones free of charge, the Department of Home Affairs has said.,

Parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape were hit by heavy rain that caused flooding and a storm hit parts of Tembisa in the north of Joburg this week.

Among some of the valuable belongings lost by many victims are their ID documents. Many others, particularly in Tembisa, cannot afford to rebuild their homes.

“Those that have been affected by natural disasters will not be required to pay any fees to re-apply for any Identity Documents lost during natural disasters as the department has decided to waiver their fees to enable them to exercise their democratic right to vote,” Home Affairs said.

Victims can apply for temporary IDs in order to be able to vote next week or apply for a normal ID. Either way, it will not cost them anything.

Home Affairs mobile units will be deployed to affected areas over the weekend and next week

“We have deployed 10 Home Affairs officials to assist with two mobile trucks and four vehicles. As a caring department and government, we will do all in our power to assist the affected citizens. Asylum seekers and refugees and all other affected people who are in the country,” Home Affairs minister, Malusi Gigaba said.

[Source – SA Government News]