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SA suspends ID suicide officials SA suspends ID suicide officials
(about 1 hour later)
Two South African officials have been suspended in connection with the suicide of Skhumbuzo Mhlongo.Two South African officials have been suspended in connection with the suicide of Skhumbuzo Mhlongo.
The 22 year old committed suicide after being refused the identity documents he needed to start a job on Monday.The 22 year old committed suicide after being refused the identity documents he needed to start a job on Monday.
Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced the suspensions at the man's funeral, where she was addressing mourners. Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced the suspensions at the man's funeral.
"We cannot lose a life because of public servants who have forgotten that they are there to help the public and not there to act like kings," she said.
The minister broke down in tears before journalists earlier this week when she was telling them about the case.The minister broke down in tears before journalists earlier this week when she was telling them about the case.
If someone after coming from a Home Affairs office says he has lost hope to a point of ending his life, that cannot be acceptable it cannot be right and it cannot continue Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
In his suicide note, Mr Mhlongo explained how an official had torn up his ID application, calling him a foreigner.In his suicide note, Mr Mhlongo explained how an official had torn up his ID application, calling him a foreigner.
The minister said she suspected an official had expected a bribe. Ms Dlamini-Zuma said her department was there to help make people's lives easier and not drive them to despair.
Disciplinary hearing "If someone after coming from a Home Affairs office says he has lost hope to a point of ending his life, that cannot be acceptable it cannot be right and it cannot continue," she said.
Ms Dlamini-Zuma's spokesperson told the BBC that she wants the matter "to be resolved as soon as possible". Spot inspections
"The officials have been suspended with immediate effect," Ronnie Mamoepa said. The minister also paid a surprise visit to the Pinetown office where the incident happened.
"They will be appearing before a disciplinary hearing soon," he told the BBC. The case moved Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to tears
Mrs Dlamini-Zuma said South Africans had the right to high quality service and should not be driven to such drastic acts to make their voices heard. She said she found "a lot wrong with the office" and promised that her department would visit other offices in the country to inspect their day-to-day running.
The incident has prompted the Department of Home Affairs to set up a new telephone hotline for people to register complaints about civil servants.
The minister urged the public to use it and make their voices heard.
Her spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said the suspended officials will soon be appearing before a disciplinary hearing.
The BBC's Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg says the Department of Home Affairs has come under heavy criticism over the years for its inefficiency in issuing ID documents, birth certificates and passports, with some people claiming to have waited up to four years.The BBC's Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg says the Department of Home Affairs has come under heavy criticism over the years for its inefficiency in issuing ID documents, birth certificates and passports, with some people claiming to have waited up to four years.
She points out it would be even more difficult to obtain the documents if you have no parents to vouch for your identity.She points out it would be even more difficult to obtain the documents if you have no parents to vouch for your identity.
In response to the case, the Department of Home Affairs has set up a hotline for people to register complaints about its civil servants: 0800-2044-76.
The line, which did not work when the BBC tried it on Monday, is now accepting calls.
Sibling carerSibling carer
Mr Mhlongo, who was buried in Hillcrest near Durban in Kwa-Zulu Natal Province, had been due to start the new job at a factory which manufactures bird food on Monday.Mr Mhlongo, who was buried in Hillcrest near Durban in Kwa-Zulu Natal Province, had been due to start the new job at a factory which manufactures bird food on Monday.
Mr Mamoepa said the Department of Social Development assisted the family with the burial arrangements.Mr Mamoepa said the Department of Social Development assisted the family with the burial arrangements.
Mr Mhlongo had been raised by his mother, who disappeared in 2000, leaving him to care for his younger siblings.Mr Mhlongo had been raised by his mother, who disappeared in 2000, leaving him to care for his younger siblings.
He had apparently been trying to get an ID card for some time without any luck and had been told to bring someone who could vouch for his nationality.He had apparently been trying to get an ID card for some time without any luck and had been told to bring someone who could vouch for his nationality.
But the official did not believe that the man he brought along was his father, tore up Mr Mhlongo's papers and called him a "kwere-kwere" - a derogatory term used for foreign nationals.But the official did not believe that the man he brought along was his father, tore up Mr Mhlongo's papers and called him a "kwere-kwere" - a derogatory term used for foreign nationals.
He apparently left the suicide note before hanging himself.He apparently left the suicide note before hanging himself.