Audio By Carbonatix
The family of South Africa's Skhumbuzo Mhlongo, who committed suicide after he was refused an ID, say they are now ready to move on with their lives.
Mr Mhlongo's family have received a house from the government, along with their identity documents.
"It is a dream come true. Skhumbuzo would be happy," his sister Zandile told the BBC.
In a case which shocked the nation, the 22-year-old took his life after being refused the papers he needed for a job.
Two Home Affairs officials have since been fired over the incident.
The Mhlongos' new home is a three-bedroom house with electricity and running water - a first for the family who were living in run-down house in Kwa-Nqetho village in Hillcrest in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
"We are very happy. It is like our lives have become brand new now. We can smile again," Ms Mhlongo told the BBC News website.
"It is sad that it happened like this but we now have IDs and a chance to get jobs. This is something Skhumbuzo always wanted," said his sister.
Mr Mhlongo 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.
In his suicide note, Mr Mhlongo explained how an official had torn up his ID application, calling him a foreigner.
Spot inspections
The case moved Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to tears.
She said her department suspected that the officials who handled the matter had been looking for a bribe from Mr Mhlongo.
The minister also paid a surprise visit to the Pinetown office where the incident happened.
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 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.
Ms Dlamini-Zuma's spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa told the BBC that they were optimistic that "there will be a turn-around in the department".
Source: BBC
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana Gas denies wrongdoing over insurance switch, insists process was lawful
1 minute -
Minority mourns Berekum Chelsea player Dominic Frimpong after fatal robbery attack
4 minutes -
Gone too soon: Top facts about Berekum Chelsea forward Dominic Frimpong
11 minutes -
Oil, war and the limits of monetary policy
31 minutes -
GFA calls for justice after death of Berekum Chelsea forward Frimpong
36 minutes -
Finance Minister leads Ghana’s delegation to 2026 IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings
37 minutes -
Today’s front pages: Monday, April 13, 2026
38 minutes -
Eugene Zuta Ministries ties new album project ‘Songs of the Redeemed’ to education support for 50 children
40 minutes -
African banks could be affected in prolonged Iran war; central banks may tighten policy rate – Fitch
42 minutes -
Ghana to honour astronaut Christina Koch with University of Ghana ties after Artemis II mission
48 minutes -
The Pulse of accountability: Navigating medical negligence in Ghana, as an emerging challenge in healthcare.
54 minutes -
Borders by Design: How the world controls who moves and who stays
60 minutes -
A LinkedIn message, a Dublin defender, and a nation’s first World Cup qualification
1 hour -
UNFPA Ghana recognised with Head of State award
1 hour -
Berekum Chelsea winger Dominic Frimpong dies after armed robbery attack on team bus
2 hours