Inefficiencies and inconsideration at Home Affairs Offices.

How many times have I read about plans to eliminate the GREEN ID BOOK? How many times have I read about all the plans, waiting to be implemented in order to achieve this goal? We have been told that the GREEN BOOK is insecure and that all South Africans should endeavour, as soon as possible, to apply for the new SMART CARD.

This is surely a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing!

My son arrived in South Africa, from New York, on 26 December. On Monday 30 December I took him to Home Affairs, Cape Town, to apply for the new SMART card. He would be in Cape Town just long enough to personally collect the new card.

All was well until bureaucracy played its ugly hand.

Home Affairs were, without publicizing, not taking "walk-ins" during that week. No amount of leading and explanations would cause the attendant behind the counter to address our problem.

Applying through the Consulate in New York would only have produced another GREEN ID Book as the Consulates are not equipped to issue SMART Cards. In any event, the newly issued GREEN ID Book issued by Consulate Offices would soon have to again be exchanged for SMART cards, at another fee. The public is again being fleeced>

Where to from here Mr Schreiber? Talk is cheap! ACtions speak louder than words.

W