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Home Affairs offers to help 'dead' man

Source: Cape Times, 25/09/2016


PRETORIA: He obtained three qualifications and an internship in
government and was on the path to crafting a great future for himself
– but Thokozani Ngubani was unable to realise his dreams because,
according to Home Affairs, he is dead.


The 31-year-old from Brooklyn is listed as dead in the national
population register. The mistake goes back two years, after he lost
his ID. The department has no idea how he "died", but has promised to
urgently investigate.


Originally from KwaZulu-Natal, Ngubani relocated to the capital after
being accepted as an intern with the Department of Economic
Development and Tourism.


His nightmare began shortly after he lost his ID in 2014.


He immediately applied for a new ID, but that was just the start of
his woes.


"I thought since I applied for a new ID my problems would be a thing
of the past. However, I discovered when trying to switch bank accounts
while doing my internship that I had been declared dead," he
said.


"I've tried everything I could think of and even sent an e-mail to the
Ministry of Home Affairs. The secretary of Minister Malusi Gigaba
replied to me just once. I keep being referred to `someone who would
help me,` but each time all I end up with is a different reference
number and no solution."


Home Affairs spokesman Mayihlome Tshwete said the department was
investigating the circumstances around the matter with a view to
assisting Ngubani. He added that the department had dealt with similar
cases in the past.


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