ID demand causes near-riot at Okahandja

POLICE reinforcements had to be brought in from Windhoek after riotous scenes unfolded at the Okahandja Town Hall, where an estimated 3 500 people turned up for what was to be the second-last day of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ issuing of ID documents in the Otjozondjupa Region.

Although the registration by the mobile team from Otjiwarongo was supposed to start by 08h00, some people had started queuing by 03h00 already to make sure that they would stand a chance of getting their documents. By 07h00, the queue was so long that it snaked around the block, those present said.The team arrived late, however, and only got to work by 09h00, people said.There were no Police officers present to keep the crowd under control, and when the front door opened, a large crowd pushed its way through the door, seemingly catching the Home Affairs team completely off guard.The event had been widely advertised in the media, and the advertisements were perhaps too successful in getting people’s attention, Home Affairs team leader Godwin Tjinape said in a brief interview later.What was supposed to be a quiet morning at work suddenly turned into chaos.”People are afraid that they will not get IDs,” Tjinape said.”This was supposed to be the last two days for the team to register people in Otjozondjupa,” he added.”We weren’t expecting to have so many turn out.”People were afraid that they would miss their only opportunity to obtain proper identification cards, which contributed to the high turnout.The near-impossible bureaucracy in Windhoek, where only 150 people a day can be processed on only three days a week, meant that most people can’t afford to apply there, said Anna Gaoses, one of the people in the queue.”People are too poor to go and sit in Windhoek for three days or to go to Otjiwarongo,” Gaoses (52) said.”So we were all just waiting.”There were also many younger people – without an ID card it is hard to find a job, they said.By midday, Police reinforcements from Windhoek had arrived but by then people had already pushed their way into the Town Hall from the back doors as well.The grounds of the Town Hall were evacuated, and news that only old and disabled people would be helped upset younger applicants.By lunchtime, the Special Field Force had cordoned off the section of the main street opposite the Town Hall and cleared the area around it.Home Affairs spokesperson Kauku Hengari was also caught by surprise by the turn of events.After hurried consultations, he announced that the registration team would remain at Okahandja “until they have served all the people in the queues”.* John Grobler is a freelance journalist; 081 240 1587By 07h00, the queue was so long that it snaked around the block, those present said.The team arrived late, however, and only got to work by 09h00, people said.There were no Police officers present to keep the crowd under control, and when the front door opened, a large crowd pushed its way through the door, seemingly catching the Home Affairs team completely off guard.The event had been widely advertised in the media, and the advertisements were perhaps too successful in getting people’s attention, Home Affairs team leader Godwin Tjinape said in a brief interview later.What was supposed to be a quiet morning at work suddenly turned into chaos.”People are afraid that they will not get IDs,” Tjinape said.”This was supposed to be the last two days for the team to register people in Otjozondjupa,” he added.”We weren’t expecting to have so many turn out.”People were afraid that they would miss their only opportunity to obtain proper identification cards, which contributed to the high turnout.The near-impossible bureaucracy in Windhoek, where only 150 people a day can be processed on only three days a week, meant that most people can’t afford to apply there, said Anna Gaoses, one of the people in the queue.”People are too poor to go and sit in Windhoek for three days or to go to Otjiwarongo,” Gaoses (52) said.”So we were all just waiting.”There were also many younger people – without an ID card it is hard to find a job, they said.By midday, Police reinforcements from Windhoek had arrived but by then people had already pushed their way into the Town Hall from the back doors as well.The grounds of the Town Hall were evacuated, and news that only old and disabled people would be helped upset younger applicants.By lunchtime, the Special Field Force had cordoned off the section of the main street opposite the Town Hall and cleared the area around it.Home Affairs spokesperson Kauku Hengari was also caught by surprise by the turn of events.After hurried consultations, he announced that the registration team would remain at Okahandja “until they have served all the people in the queues”.* John Grobler is a freelance journalist; 081 240 1587