Plans are under way to relocate Gqeberha’s main home affairs office from North End to Baywest Mall.
This move mirrors the relocation of the Fleet Street home affairs branch in East London to Hemingways Mall.
Both malls are owned by Hangar 18.
However, the move has drawn criticism from residents.
Home affairs spokesperson Thulani Mavuso said Baywest Mall offered more office space and a better environment for clients.
“The building at North End had space constraints and was leased from a private landlord, and the lease agreement is coming to an end.”
He said relocation plans were under way, including consultations, before a final date could be finalised and communicated to the public.
“An impact assessment for the relocation was done.
“Efforts were made to minimise the impact on our citizens and clients.
“There are three more offices in the Bay, namely Cleary Park, Kariega and Motherwell.
He said two bank branches now offered smart ID card and passport services.
These are Absa in Greenacres and Standard Bank in Pickering Street.
“Also, there is a taxi rank launched at Baywest providing direct routes to the identified new office, and the fares were considered for this route taking into consideration the North End route as well.
“Home affairs will continue offering services to communities.
“We have also expanded the mobile units’ footprint, ensuring we reach out even to communities we could not reach before, to enhance customer experience.
Baywest Mall marketing manager Lindsay Davies did not respond to WhatsApp messages or phone calls.
In a May Facebook post, Baywest Mall announced: “The department of home affairs is coming soon to Baywest Mall.”
No further information was given.
Users of the North End branch were surprised by the news and criticised the planned move.
Ntombizodwa Dali of Zwide, who went to collect an ID, said Baywest Mall was not easily accessible by public transport.
“After 8am, you can’t get taxis to Baywest. It is hard to get to that side of [Gqeberha] if you rely on public transport.”
She said a better option would be Greenacres if it were relocating.
“Motherwell is always packed, and frankly, I do not want to go there because of my safety.
“I do not understand why they would move it from here because it’s also the city centre and it’s easier for us to do shopping because we are already here in town.”
Jericho Makhetha of Kwazakhele said the next best option for him would be the Kariega branch if North End closed.
“Motherwell is too far, it’s now going to be closer to go to Kariega,” he said.
Dillon du Preez of Sidwell said such a move would discourage people from replacing lost documents.
'I do not want to go to Cleary Park because it’s a bit unsafe,” he said.
“Baywest is on the other side of town.
“I took a taxi to come here, but if I go there, it would cost R200 to go and return,” he said.
Vuyisanathi Nartuy, who was also at the branch to collect IDs with her husband, Jacob, said they were not even aware that the branch was set to close.
“What about the people who stay this side of town.
“We go to Baywest once a year and it’s to take our children out,” she said.
Having had to jump through many hoops during his naturalisation, Jacob said this was yet another example of how basic services were being made difficult to access.
“I had to go to Pedi to apply and get processed as a natural citizen,” he said.
“It’s strange, and I just do not understand why they would move from where it’s convenient for many people.”
The branch is the second home affairs office planning to move into a property owned by Hangar 18.
On Monday, The Herald’s sister publication, The Daily Dispatch, reported that the Fleet Street branch in the East London city centre would soon move to Hemingways Mall.
Baywest Mall and Hemingways Mall were sold to a consortium of equity buyers under the name Hangar 18 for R1.3bn in 2024.
They were part of a portfolio of assets owned by the Rebosis Property Fund, which went into business rescue after falling into financial distress in 2022.
The Herald
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