THE Department of Home Affairs is probing allegations that mothers are selling their kinders se original birth certificates to foreigners.
This comes after several instances came to light where 18-year olds tried to apply for ID documents and couldn't produce their original birth certificates.
Mense first got snuf innie neus when the manager for Home Affairs in Mitchells Plain, Shereen Meyer, mentioned it in a community meeting attended by stakeholders and residents.
Meyer, confirmed to the Weekend Argus that an internal investigation was underway after the matter came to the department’s attention when several learners applying for their identity documents (IDs) in matric were unable to produce birth certificates.
“Our citizenship is not to be sold,” said Meyer firmly during the meeting, warning of the seriousness of such offences.
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed it is investigating the claims.
Siyabulela Qoza, spokesperson for the department, said they were aware of three such cases and were probing whether more instances may have occurred.
He also confirmed that, from what they have seen, the incidents do not appear to be stemming from the office- referencing that there is no involvement of employees.
He said: “We found that the mothers are selling their kids birth certificates without the knowledge of Home Affairs, especially when they come for replacements - and they get questioned.
“We do not feel comfortable that this is happening and will launch a national investigation, based on what we are able to find we will determine what will need to happen.”
South Africans have been the victims of identity fraud since the dawn of democracy when illegal immigrants tried to obtain South African ID’s, birth certificates, marriage certificates and other documents in a bid to stay in the country legally.
The alleged selling of children’s birth certificates has drawn fierce condemnation from public officials, including Mitchells Plain constituency head Ricardo Mackenzie, who said: “It is disgusting that mommies are doing this. What makes it even more sad, because now the children have to suffer.”