My mother does not want to help me apply for an ID, what can I do?

The long answer

Home Affairs wants your mother to be present when you apply for a first-time ID because they want to verify her fingerprints to prove that she is your mother. If you are in contact with your father, he could go with you instead. If it is possible for your father to accompany you instead of your mother, he would need to bring a certified copy of his ID.

But if you can’t get one of your parents to accompany you, you could approach a social worker through your school to go with you, or you could ask the Department of Social Development to help.

A school social worker can provide a school report and make an affidavit confirming that you are who you say you are. A social worker can tell Home Affairs that your mother is unwilling to be present and that they are there to help you apply without her.

These are the documents that Home Affairs will need before they issue your first-time ID card after you have turned 16:

1.     A certified copy of your birth certificate

2.     A certified copy of the ID of one of your parents, or legal guardian or informant. (An informant could be a social worker. Home 

Affairs may also accept an older relative who is willing to make a sworn affidavit confirming your identity, as an informant.)

3.     Proof of your residential address

4.     You must complete Form B1-9, which you can get at the Home Affairs office, in black ink.

5.     You need two identical colour photos, but if the Home Affairs office that you go to is a smart office, you don’t need the photos as they can capture your image digitally. You can find out whether you need photos by emailing or phoning your local Home Affairs office.

6.     The ID is free of charge.

These are the National Contact Details for the Department of Social Development (DSD):

Customer Care Helpline: 012 312 7727 (For general enquiries) 

Email: [email protected]

As I don’t know what province you are in, these are the DSD provincial phone numbers:

• GAUTENG : (011) 355 7687 / 7977 / 7878

• LIMPOPO: (015) 293 6004 / 6054 / 6011 / 6053

• NORTH WEST: (018) 387 3434 / 0255 / 3497 / 0281

• MPUMALANGA: (013) 766 3098 / 3253 / 3031

• FREE STATE: (051) 400 0302 / 0304 / 0307

• EASTERN CAPE: (043) 605 5000

• KWAZULU-NATAL: (033) 264 5400

• WESTERN CAPE: (021) 483 3858/ 3765 / 3158 / 5445

• NORTHEN CAPE: (053) 807 5600

If you still can’t get your ID from Home Affairs, you could approach one of the following organisations for help:

• Lawyers for Human Rights

Email: [email protected]

Tel: Musina 015 534 2203

Durban: 031 301 0531

Pretoria: 012 320 2943

Johannesburg: 011 339 1960

Cape Town: 021 424 8561

• Legal Resources Centre

Email:[email protected]

Johannesburg: 011 836 9831

Cape Town: 021 481 3000.

Durban: 031 301 7572

Wishing you the best,
Athalie