A Bonteheuwel family is begging for help as their frail brother struggles to get his ID from the Department of Home Affairs.
The 66-year-old oupa, Ismail Khan from Bessie Road, says he re-applied for his identity documents in 2016 after losing the original in Paarl while he was visiting there.
According to his concerned sister, Nashreen Beukes, they have been to the Cape Town offices of Home Affairs several times to apply for a new ID, to no avail.
“I even recently went to Home Affairs in Wynberg hoping they could help me but the manager and staff were so rude,” she says.
“So I phoned the district manager and she said she will make contact with Cape Town to make an appointment with me.
“Sibosiso sent an SMS telling me he will phone me later that day on the 11 October but to this day I never heard from him.
“He is not very healthy so our main concern now is what will happen should he pass away,” says Nashreen.
She says they were told someone in Limpopo is using the same ID number as oupa Ismail.
“According to Home Affairs, there’s a guy in Limpopo running on his ID number.
“Unfortunately we don’t have documents with Ismail’s ID number to even prove it is his.
“We searched everywhere but couldn’t find even a copy.”
Oupa Ismail adds: “I am getting older every day and I don’t know what is going to happen to me if I die now.
“I need an ID please.”
The oupa relies on piece jobs as he doesn’t receive a Sassa grant, for which he needs an ID to apply.
Samuel Plaatjies, the District Coordinator for the Cape Metro Department of Home Affairs, insisted that the family should provide proof of an ID number in order for the department to investigate the Ismail’s application.
“I have yet to receive the ID number of Mr. Khan.
“That’s what we require to investigate, only the ID number.
“Can you kindly request this information from the family?” says Samuel.