DURBAN — KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Ncube-Dube heralded the arrival of new Home Affairs mobile offices as a pivotal enhancement to governmental service accessibility in the region. The mobile units were unveiled earlier this week by President Cyril Ramaphosa in Mokopane, Limpopo, and are part of a national effort to extend essential services to underserved areas.

According to South African Government News Agency, who spoke during the handover ceremony at Hoy Park Stadium in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal received 16 of the 100 new mobile offices. These units are designed to reduce the barriers residents face in obtaining government services, such as identity documents and passports. "What we are seeing here today is just another milestone for us and our people in the townships and far-flung areas who have not been able to reach Home Affairs. Today, they will be able to reach Home Affairs," said Ncube-Dube. She emphasized that the mobile offices represent a significant shift in making services more accessible, especially for people with disabilities and the elderly.

The mobile offices are a response to frequent complaints about long queues and limited access at fixed Home Affairs locations in areas like Umngeni, central Durban, and Pinetown. Ncube-Dube pointed out that the new fleet will alleviate these issues by enabling residents to apply for documents and register vital events like births without the need to travel far from home.

Further detailing the logistics, the Premier mentioned that each truck is fully equipped to handle a variety of administrative functions and is designed to be accessible to all citizens, including the elderly and those with disabilities. With the addition of these units, the total number of mobile trucks in the province will increase to 30.

Security measures are also being implemented, with members of the community safety department set to accompany each truck to protect against criminal activity as the services are delivered across various localities.

Premier Ncube-Dube expressed gratitude to President Ramaphosa and Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi for their support in allocating these mobile units to KwaZulu-Natal. Cyril Mncwabe, the Provincial Manager for Home Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal, stated that the trucks would be distributed across five district municipalities to enhance the operational reach of local Home Affairs offices.