MPUMALANGA — As the country gears up for the Local Government Elections next month, a severe identity document mix-up has left two young sisters from Mpumalanga disenfranchised and unable to cast their votes. Marvin and Linky Mashele, residents of Swalala village near Masoyi, have been trapped in a bureaucratic nightmare since 2022, highlighting the critical impact of administrative delays on citizens’ constitutional rights.
The sisters, aged 19 and 21, initially applied for their identity documents in 2022 as first-time applicants. However, they were shocked to discover that IDs and passports had already been issued and collected by unknown individuals using their personal details.
Since the discovery, the sisters have been sent from pillar to post. They were directed to a departmental review board at the Department of Home Affairs, where they completed all required interviews and successfully passed all verification checks. Their father was also called in to assist with the matter. In 2025, officials provided them with a formal document intended to help resolve the issue and secure their IDs, but the problem remains unresolved.
The prolonged crisis has had a devastating personal impact on the young women. Nineteen-year-old Linky, who was looking forward to voting for the first time, says the lack of an ID has cascading effects on her family. She noted that because she cannot prove her identity, her own daughter has been unable to receive a birth certificate.
Twenty-one-year-old Marvin, who was hoping to vote for the second time, expressed deep frustration over her inability to participate in the democratic process. She emphasized that in South Africa, an ID is essential for almost every aspect of daily life. She explained that it pains her not to have an ID because everything a person does requires one, adding that without identification, it would be incredibly difficult for authorities to locate her if she were to go missing.
Despite the severity of the situation and the upcoming elections, Department of Home Affairs spokespersons have remained silent on the specific case. An official inquiry sent to the department a week ago has not yet received a response, leaving the sisters with no clear solution ahead of election day.
