A 20-year-old, Kaipandjarua Tjiposa from Gam, is appealing to the government to intervene and assist her in getting the necessary identification documents after spending her entire life without a birth certificate or national identity document.

Tjiposa says she was raised by her uncle, who died in 2021. 

About five years ago, her mother moved to the Omaheke Region.

Tjiposa said she has since lost any means of communication with her mother and does not know her current whereabouts.

"I don't have documents because my mom used to have her documents, and now she just keeps claiming that she doesn't have money to go to Windhoek to go look for her papers, and then Home Affairs, they always tell me to go look for my mom, and now she is nowhere to be found."

Despite successfully completing Grade 12 in 2023 with 30 points, she says her future remains the same as she is unable to further her studies or apply for jobs due to the lack of official documents.

"I completed my grade 12 in 2023, and after that I'm just sitting at home because I don't have an ID to apply to university; that's why I have been sitting at home doing nothing, and I can't even get a job even if it's a part-time job. Every job that I tried required an ID, and life without an ID is not easy."

Contacted for comment, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Margareth Kalo, said that the ministry recognises the importance of civil registration and identity documents.

The documents she says are essential for accessing education, employment opportunities, financial services and other public services.

Kalo encouraged Tjiposa to visit the nearest ministry office so that her circumstances can be properly assessed and the necessary assistance provided.