The Democratic Alliance has revealed that\u00a0infrastructure and IT related problems are hampering the\u00a0Home Affairs online birth registration process.<\/p>\n
Of\u00a0the 353 Home Affairs online birth registration facilities currently available in hospitals across the country, 111 (31.4%) are currently experiencing debilitating \u201cinfrastructure or IT related problems\u201d, according to a reply to a DA parliamentary question.<\/p>\n
DA shadow minister of Home Affairs,\u00a0Manny de Freitas, notes that online birth registration facilities play a crucial role in ensuring that birth registrations take place as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
This, de Freitas says,\u00a0also saves financially challenged and rural citizens from the costly expense of having to travel long distances to Home Affairs offices to register births.<\/p>\n
The implementation of online registration facilities was launched in March to ensure the National Population Registry’s integrity and eradicate identity theft, child trafficking and late birth registration at adult stage.<\/p>\n
According to the DA, in the parliamentary reply, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) failed to provide a set roll-out schedule for the initial 795 targeted health institutions for the programme.<\/p>\n
“This suggests a distinct lack of commitment or sense of priority from the Minister of Home Affairs, Naledi Pandor.<\/p>\n
“I will submit further parliamentary questions to determine the progress of the roll out and whether the DHA has finalised a schedule yet,”\u00a0de Freitas said.<\/p>\n
The DA said it will request that Pandor explore alternative and innovative solutions such as partnering with private data service providers in order to ensure that all hospitals are online.<\/p>\n
“Speedy birth registrations ensure access to crucial services. The Department of Home Affairs must deliver,”\u00a0de Freitas said.<\/p>\n
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