Minister of Home Affairs launches offices in Atlantis

- By Candice van Reenen

5 May 2011

The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Nkosasana Dlamini Zuma, officially launched the Home Affairs office at the Hartebeeskraal Thusong Service Centre in Atlantis.

The launch was attended by leaders, representatives of community organisations, government departments and community members, who were all present to witness this historic launch. The Minister was also accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Ms Fatima Chohan and a contingent of staff from her provincial office.

Atlantis, which is a remote community approximately 50km from central Cape Town, has long been a community troubled with access to both jobs and services. Known as a lost city, the launch of the new Home Affairs office sought to change the perception with the community that indeed the government of the day is caring, considerate and delivers.

Previously, community members would trek to Malmesbury to access basic necessities such as identity documents and birth registrations. Travelling to Malmesbury, which falls within a neighbouring municipality, has brought about its own drawbacks, with residents of Atlantis having to negotiate both financial and safety issues in order to obtain the necessary services. With the newly built Home Affairs office, government's aim was to ensure that residents could access services on their doorstep.

The public launch also gave residents an opportunity to meet the Minister and pose questions to her and the Provincial Manager of Home Affairs, Mr Yusuf Simons, in relation to service delivery and the new fee structure which has been implemented as of 1 April 2011.

In addition to acquiring a new anchor department in Atlantis, it is also a milestone for the Hartbeeskraal Thusong Service Centre which plays host to this new department. This new service has brought an upgrade to the centre in terms of maintenance and infrastructural redevelopment which included tiling, painting, and additional repairs to the centre. The Thusong Centre can now also look forward to a steady income which will come from the revenue of rental from the Department of Home Affairs.

Hartebeeskraal Thusong Service Centre will also within the coming months house the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) which will be renovating another section in preparation for their unit to take up full time space at the Thusong Service Centre.

Ends

SCO Western Cape
Candice van Reenen
083 243 3353