“What we need is an identity document (ID), then we can release your first year results … It was a favour to allow students to use a birth certificate for registration and bursary applications.”

This was the straight message that went out to Mr Collin Mbedzi (24) of Muledane Block J near Thohoyandou. A few weeks ago, he wrote his first-year exam for a Bachelor of Science and Chemistry and Mathematics course at Univen.

Mbedzi lost his father a few years ago and his ailing mother, Tshimangadzo Mbedzi, has since left her work as a domestic worker as a result of illness. Now this devastated student is struggling to get his results, because the university is demanding an ID copy to process and release last year’s results.

According to this science student, he has been struggling for six years now to get an ID, without any luck. Mbedzi´s woes started when he applied for an ID in 2003, and it never reached him, despite several enquiries. He went to enquire about his ID back in 2004 and was told that he was sharing an ID with another person in Alexandra in Gauteng Province.

 Since then, Mbedzi has re-applied six times at the Department of Home Affairs’ offices in Thohoyandou and Makwarela. His last re-application was on the 25th of June last year, but nothing has happened.

  Mbedzi said that life is difficult for him because he can´t even open a bank account. Like in 2004, he cannot not exercise his right to vote as the problem had just begun.
 "Now I´m pleading with the Department of Home Affairs to help me because the university is demanding a copy of my ID," Mbedzi said.

Univen spokesperson Mr Takalani Dzaga said that the university needs an ID copy to process his results and help him to obtain the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
 Home Affairs spokesperson Mr Joseph Mohajane said that Mbedzi re-applied for an ID many times and this caused a duplication. “We have opened a duplication case and we are thoroughly investigating the matter,” Mohajane said.