The South African Department of Home Affairs has been hit by the theft of computer equipment from its offices around the country to the tune of about R1-million in the past year, Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi has divulged.
In reply to a question from New National Party MP Carol Johnson, Buthelezi indicated that many of the buildings could not be secured owing to insufficient funds.
Johnson said in a statement on Wednesday that the computer equipment ”was crucial to ensure the proper functioning of these offices, which are responsible to ensure that people get their identity documents”.
”Without IDs, people are unable to obtain their social grants, nor will they be able to register to vote in the upcoming election. In short, without ID books, people are practically disenfranchised.”
In reply to further questions, the minister stated that the Nkandla service point in KwaZulu Natal had no computer equipment whatsoever, while the Randfontein office has only four computers, which were more than five years old.
Johnson noted that voter registration was taking place in November. Nearly R400 000 worth of equipment — including 17 computers — were lost from the Pretoria head office of Home Affairs in January this year
The Tongaat office lost R60 000 worth of equipment between August 7 and 12 this year. This included six computers. At the district office in Nigel in October last year more than R44 000 worth of equipment was stolen while at Brits R66 000 worth of equipment was taken in February this year.
”Although frequently burgled premises have been secured, many buildings occupied by the department have not been secured due to insufficient funds.”
”With the Ramp project (Repair and Maintenance Programme), initiated by the Department of Public Works, currently in process, it is intended to have all State-owned buildings properly secured.”
Other centres where computer equipment had been lost in the last year included Kempton Park, Port Elizabeth, Lebombo, Umtata, Bothavilla, Centurion, Mount Frere, East London, Greytown and Thohoyandou. – I-Net Bridge