From Queues to Access: End the Backlog of Unregistered Children and Fix Home Affairs Now!

Every child deserves the right to be recognised, to have a name, and to access their basic rights. Yet many South African children and families cannot access essential services because Department of Home Affairs (DHA) systems are failing, both online and in physical offices. Communities are left stranded, unable to secure birth certificates, ID documents, and other critical papers needed to enrol children in school, access healthcare, and receive social grants [1]. According to a report presented to Parliament by former Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, DHA recorded a backlog of about 258,000 late birth-registration applications between 2018 and 2022, though civil society groups argue that the true number may be higher [3].

This backlog is worsened in rural communities, where long distances to DHA offices, limited outreach, and shortages of staff and resources further delay registration and other services. At the same time, South Africa is shifting many services online. While some cities have improved digital access, nearly one in four households (about 21–25 %) still have no internet access, and among those that do, only 13.3 % have a fixed home connection [2]. Caregivers who are digitally excluded often elderly women struggle to navigate online systems, leaving children invisible in government records.

For millions of families, physical DHA offices remain the only point of access. Yet these offices are overstretched: rising demand, staff shortages, and poor infrastructure strain their capacity. Online systems sometimes crash or freeze, forcing families back to overcrowded offices already buckling under pressure [2]. These barriers leave children unregistered, prevent access to essential services, and deepen inequality, violating children’s constitutional rights to recognition and support.