Collen Malungane, Thulamahashe, Mpumalanga: I wish first to take issue with two points raised by Mkuseli Apleni, director-general of Home Affairs, on reasons behind the ID and passport tariff increases ("Passport and ID costs soar", March 29).
To begin with, his assertion that these increases are reasonable would be laughable if they were not so serious.
To the unemployed and the poor, an increase from R20 to R140 for re-issuing an ID is impoverishing.
Giving two weeks notice of the increases is an insensitive slap in the face of the unemployed.
Saying the increases are already approved and gazetted does not make them legitimate.
My second issue with Apleni's increases is that he seems to have deliberately avoided the consultation route over the matter, thereby robbing us of an opportunity to air our views.
Personally, I reject the increases, which should have been 20% for both identity documents and passports.
No matter how much money you spend on increasing security features on the documents, as long as corrupt Home Affairs officials are not rooted out, the problem will remain.
Let us give a red card to corruption, but keep identity document access within reach of the working class.
