More than 360,000 identity documents remain uncollected at Home Affairs offices across South Africa, prompting the department to extend operating hours nationwide ahead of the final voter registration weekend.
The Department of Home Affairs announced that all offices will open from 8am to 5pm on Saturday, and August 2, 2026, to help eligible citizens obtain the identification documents required to register to vote.
The extension comes as South Africa prepares for the final voter registration drive before the 2026 local government elections, with officials concerned that thousands of citizens could miss the opportunity to register because they have not collected their IDs.
Home Affairs said more than 360,000 identity documents are currently awaiting collection at offices around the country and urged affected citizens to collect them as soon as possible.
Citizens who have not yet applied for a Smart ID card have also been encouraged to use the extended operating hours this weekend.
A valid identity document is required to register to vote.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the department was taking steps to ensure that access to identity documents does not become a barrier to democratic participation.
“The right to vote is one of the cornerstones of our constitutional democracy,” Schreiber said.
“By extending operating hours this weekend, Home Affairs is making it easier for every eligible South African to obtain the identity documents they need to register to vote.”
“I encourage everyone whose identity document is ready for collection, or who still needs to apply for a Smart ID card, to make use of the extended operating hours this weekend.”
The department’s intervention highlights the scale of the challenge facing electoral authorities, with hundreds of thousands of identity documents still lying unclaimed just days before the country’s final voter registration weekend.
Home Affairs said all offices nationwide will remain open throughout the weekend to assist citizens seeking identity documents and other services linked to voter registration.
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