Rustenburg Home Affairs finally leaves the CBD

Platinum Weekly newspaper | Rustenburg – Ask anyone in Rustenburg and they’ll tell you: going to Home Affairs was never just an errand — it was a risk. That’s why news of the department’s move out of the CBD is being welcomed with open arms.

For years, residents needing identity documents, birth certificates, or passports had little choice but to visit the Home Affairs offices at 127 Bethlehem Street, right in the middle of Rustenburg’s central business district. It was a location many people feared — and avoided whenever possible.

The area has long been associated with crime, and over time there have been repeated reports of muggings and attacks on members of the public. Standing in long queues from early morning hours only made people more vulnerable. The risk was well known. 

So serious were the safety concerns that many residents simply stopped going there. Instead, people took entire days off work to travel to Swartruggens or other towns. Some even went as far as trying their luck in different cities altogether. They knew the systems might be offline. They knew they might come home empty-handed. But for many, that felt safer than spending hours in the Rustenburg CBD.

The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that the Rustenburg office will be relocating to Tlhabane Mall, with the move set to begin on 22 January 2026.

During the transition, the Bethlehem Street offices will close. To ensure services continue, mobile Home Affairs offices will operate from Tlhabane Square until the new permanent office is fully operational.

The mobile units will handle key services, including:

• Birth registration within 30 days
• Death registration
• Collection of Smart ID Cards
• Collection of passports

All other Home Affairs services will be available at nearby offices during this period.