A Lavender Hill woman says she is struggling to get her 9-year-old son into a school as she has never owned an identity document.
Brenda Wilson, 31, says not having an ID has prevented her son from being accepted into a primary school in the area.
“I’ve always only had a birth certificate but never an ID. Over the years I lost my birth certificate and have since been struggling with Home Affairs to get myself an ID.
“We had to get affidavits. It has been an up and down and runaround from the Cape Town and Wynberg offices,” Brenda explains.
The mother of two says her son is now wandering the streets.
“I have gone to schools but they do not want to understand. I was on drugs and have been three years clean and now finding a job is difficult because I need an ID,” she says.
“I am heartbroken and feeling like I am in a rut because there’s nothing I can do for myself or my family.”
The single mother says her only wish is to get an ID so she can “kickstart” her life.
“I have been to my former primary school and high school but they say they cannot help me with my old birth certificate. My hart se verlange is dat my kind by ‘n skool inkom en nie so dwaal nie,” Brenda adds.
Home Affairs spokesman David Hlabane says the department needs to consult with Brenda’s mother first.
“The matter is being investigated as the department needs to establish, with the assistance of Brenda’s mother, whether Brenda was ever registered, and if needs be, use other evidence including institutions where her ID number may have been provided,” Hlabane said.