The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security is facing a significant backlog of uncollected identity documents (IDs). As of 31 January 2025, a staggering 126,013 IDs remain in the ministry's possession, according to Executive Director Etienne Maritz in a recent statement to Confidente.

While the number has slightly decreased from approximately 130,000 in July 2024, the volume of uncollected documents remains a challenge. Maritz's update reveals that 554,419 IDs were printed between July 2024 and 31 January 2025, with only 428,406 collected, leaving the substantial remainder unclaimed.

The reasons behind this large number of uncollected IDs are varied, but the ministry is actively working to address the issue. They utilize daily, free SMS notifications to remind individuals to collect their documents. Beyond these notifications, the ministry broadcasts radio announcements in local languages and has implemented a mobile collection strategy to reach residents in remote and underserved areas. A second SMS is sent 60 days after the initial notification, and regional offices conduct targeted outreach programs specifically for ID distribution.

Maritz acknowledged the significant cost associated with ID printing but emphasized that providing legal identity is a right. He confirmed that all duplicate IDs issued between April 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025, have been processed. While he didn't provide a specific figure for annual printing costs, he reiterated that it is a substantial expense.

The ID printing process is centralized in Windhoek. Applications from all regions are sent to the capital for printing, and the completed IDs are then dispatched back to the respective offices for collection. To better serve remote communities, the ministry conducted a mass registration campaign from February to July 2024, covering all 121 constituencies. They also respond to requests from regional councillors for targeted outreach programs in hard-to-reach communities.

The current fee structure, implemented in 2021, aims to encourage responsible document handling, according to Maritz. He noted that the ministry participates in trade fairs and expos to further promote document care, as replacing lost or damaged IDs incurs additional costs.

To ensure document security and accuracy, ID applications undergo a multi-stage quality control process. Currently, the turnaround time for ID applications submitted in Windhoek is five working days, while applications submitted elsewhere require 14 working days, as outlined in the Ministerial Customer Service Charter launched in October 2024.