Government able to play ball when it suits them

Isn't it amazing how fast the wheels of government can turn when it needs to. But why only when summoned to do so by Ministerial decree?

Free State-born Kamohelo Mokotjo, who plies his trade at the Dutch Eredivisie side FC Twente, was ineligible to play for Bafana Bafana in a pair of international friendlies against Guinea-Bissau and Angola.

 He had acquired a Dutch passport by naturalisation last year and relinquished his South African citizenship.

Oblivious to Mokotjo's status initially when calling him up for national duty, the South African Football Association (SAFA) were forced to spring into action to get the 26-year-old midfielder's paperwork in order to avoid what could clearly have been an embarrassment.

Mokotjo had fallen out of favour with former Bafana Bafana head coach Shakes Mashaba and it appears as if his sudden recall for the two international assignments even took  him by surprise.

As implied, it would seem his acquisition of a Dutch passport had little to do with Mashaba pressing the 'ignore' button, but was motivated more by his potential qualification as a European citizen.

 That privilege enables him to play for any club within the European Union, including the UK, without applying for a work permit.

 Whether he will now be allowed, in terms of Dutch law, to retain that status, is uncertain. Fact is, in terms of South African law, dual citizenship is not permitted.

 So, quicker than Wayde van Niekerk out of the starting blocks, enter the Department of Home Affairs.

 With little fuss, around- the-clock work and brutal efficiency, the case received priority status and the player's citizenship had been reinstated by last Friday, just less than 24 hours ahead of the first match against Guinea-Bissau in Durban.

 The case even received priority attention from Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba, who exercised his influence and issued ministerial instructions to fast track the process.

 No surprises -- the application was approved pronto.

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 A carefully-worded statement from the Ministry read: "The Minister approved the application after carefully applying his mind to a motivation submitted before him by the applicant stating the reasons for the request.

 "According to the Act, a South African shall cease to be a citizen if ‘he or she, whilst not being a minor, by some voluntary and formal act other than marriage, acquires the citizenship or nationality of a country other than the Republic.’

 "The Act further stipulates that the Minister may, upon receipt of such an application, allow the applicant to resume his former South African citizenship if he is satisfied with the facts presented before him."

 But why am I going to such great lengths to refresh what went down you must be asking?

 Simply because Joe Public, by and large, is subjected to reams and reams of red tape, shunted between queues, long waits, filling out forms and in most cases, wheels that just turn so slowly at Home Affairs to the point of utter frustration.

Yes, there are some good news stories to tell as well and they are widely-publicised when they occur, but it is not seen to be the norm or the minimum expectation from government.

 The Mokotjo case and the swift attention it received is proof that the accelerator can be pushed harder if it needs to be, but this should surely be the norm rather than the exception.

Next time you are required to take time off work to renew a passport or acquire any documentation at Home Affairs, maybe you should remind yourself over and over how quickly it can -- and should -- be done.

 Welcome back Kamohelo Mokotjo – Citizen of the Republic of South Africa (Proudly one can only hope).

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