BBC: S Africa probes ID card suicide

Trevor · **Joined:** Sat, 02 Apr 2005 17:48:48 +0000 **Posts:** 587

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8230369.stm

Quote:

The South African government is investigating the suicide of a young man who was refused the identity documents he needed to start a job.

A local official reportedly refused to issue the papers to Skhumbuzo Mhlongo, 22, accusing him of being a foreigner.

In the absence of his parents, he was looking after his four siblings.

Couldn't happen here, could it?... :wink:

Quote:

Home Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mampoepa told the BBC that 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.

"He did not have parents. He was the eldest in his family and needed the ID to secure a job as he was the sole bread-winner," said Mr Mamoepa....

Geraint · **Posted:** Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:13:21 +0000

I doubt that officials in the UK will be demanding bribes to issue legitimate ID documents. Bribes for false ones might be a different matter.

However, this does demonstrate the dangers of creating a 'licence to live'; a document issued by the state which is required for anyone to go about their normal business.

For people wrongly denied ID documents, or who have them annulled by the Home Secretary, the results could be devastating.

Trevor · **Joined:** Sat, 02 Apr 2005 17:48:48 +0000 **Posts:** 587

Geraint wrote:

I doubt that officials in the UK will be demanding bribes to issue legitimate ID documents. Bribes for false ones might be a different matter.

Maybe, maybe not...

Quote:

However, this does demonstrate the dangers of creating a 'licence to live'; a document issued by the state which is required for anyone to go about their normal business.

For people wrongly denied ID documents, or who have them annulled by the Home Secretary, the results could be devastating.

Which is why I felt I was justified in raising this without the mods playing around with the post!

Already people are having to go through hell to prove their innocence when a CRB check is done, and they are wrongly branded a criminal..

When this 'licence to live' is refused (whether through officialdom or a data 'error'), then there will indeed be instances of people who feel they have nowhere to turn to...

Guest · **Posted:** Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:09:01 +0000

Trevor wrote:

Already people are having to go through hell to prove their innocence when a CRB check is done, and they are wrongly branded a criminal..

And that's why wherever I've been told that I need a CRB check for some voluntary activity or another I've given up the activity instead....

I'm not risking making myself a martyr for societies benefit, it's societies loss every time and not a second thought from me, think twice about the consequences before introducing dissuasive measures is the take home message...

Not so easy where livlihoods are involved however, but I wouldn't be applying for any positions that demand checking in a hurry.

NO2ID

BBC: S Africa probes ID card suicide

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