A new Home Affairs office has opened at the Cape Town Civic Centre, streamlining services for residents.

Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber opened the office on 24 August, joined by Cape Town’s Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Theresa Uys, Mayco member for Corporate Services.

Location and set-up

The office is on the second floor of the Civic Centre on Hertzog Boulevard in the Cape Town central business district, next door to the City’s cash office and in close proximity to other City services and public transport.

The City handed the site to Home Affairs in June. The office opened less than three months later.

How the booking system works

The office operates on a bookings-only basis. Clients must make an appointment before visiting, which the department says allows people to plan their visits and avoid queues. Appointments can be made through its online booking system at myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za.

What it means for residents

Hill-Lewis said the City could now offer municipal and national services at one location. Residents can renew their car licences, pay rates and apply for identification and travel documents in the same building.

Uys said Capetonians would benefit from appointment-based access to a government service in a central location with access for people using public transport. She said the office showed what national and local government could achieve by working together.

Broader Home Affairs changes

Schreiber said visiting Home Affairs had long meant travelling long distances, standing in queues and losing hours of the day. He said the department’s reform programme was changing that.

Through a partnership with the banking sector South Africans can access smart ID-card replacement services at more than 450 bank branches across the country, including many in Cape Town.

The Civic Centre office builds on this by reducing pressure on busy offices such as the one in Barrack Street, he said.

Schreiber thanked Home Affairs officials and the City of Cape Town for the partnership.

ALSO READ: Capitec brings Smart ID service to Tygervalley Mall