​Gauteng News 
With only five days left until the Local Government Elections, the Department of Home Affairs has urged members of the public to collect their identity documents (IDs) which will allow them to cast their vote.
The department noted with concern that as at 22 October 2021, there were 370 000 uncollected IDs across the country.
"We call upon people who applied for their IDs more than two weeks ago to visit their nearest Home Affairs offices to collect their documents."
The Department issues Smart ID cards, green barcoded IDs and Temporary Identity Certificate, all of which are accepted by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
Operating hours have been extended by 2 ½ hours in the 197 out of a total of 412 Home Affairs offices that have the capability of processing Smart ID cards and passports.
This intervention is aimed at meeting the demand for services. 
On Saturday, 30 and Sunday, 31 October 2021 and Monday, 1 November 2021, all Home Affairs offices across the country will operate on the same hours as the IEC. 
During the voting period, Home Affairs offices will assist people who have lost or misplaced their IDs to apply for a Temporary Identity Certificate as per the requirement of the IEC to resolve duplicate cases.
Local Government Elections are an opportunity for people to make their voices heard about the pressing issues affecting their daily lives, such as access to water and electricity, properly functioning hospitals and clinics, safety and security guaranteed by an efficient police service, well-maintained roads and well-resourced public schools.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South Africans to approach their civic duty to vote in the Local Government Elections, held on November 1, with the same enthusiasm with which they vote in national and provincial elections.
"I urge all South Africans who will be voting next Monday to commit to working with whoever is ultimately elected, regardless of which political party they belong to. We should not say we have no interest in working with or assisting the newly elected official because they were not our favoured candidate," the President said.