Mbabane – Emaswati seeking essential government services were on Monday, September 28, 2026, forced to queue outside the Ministry of Home Affairs’ DC Service Centre at the Mlamuli Building in Mbabane, with applicants exposed to cold rain as temperatures ranged from 10°C to 13°C.
There is no shelter or temporary waiting space outside the centre where applicants can take cover while waiting for services. Those in the queue are left exposed to the rain as they wait to enter the building, with some standing under umbrellas while others have no protection from the weather.
The conditions have raised questions over whether the Ministry should provide temporary shelter for citizens who have to queue outside to access government services, particularly during periods of rain or extreme weather.
Among those seeking services were Form Five students applying for national identity documents (IDs) ahead of their final examinations.
Sipho Dladla and Lwazi Maziya were among the students who said they were at the centre to obtain their IDs as they prepare for the 2026 Eswatini General Certificate of Secondary Education (EGCSE) examinations.
The 2026 EGCSE final examinations are scheduled to start on October 6 and end on November 11, according to the examination timetable released by the Examinations Council of Eswatini (ECESWA).
Candidates are required to verify their identity using acceptable identification, including a school ID card, national ID or birth certificate, making access to identification documents an important part of preparations for some candidates.
The students were among other Emaswati seeking different services at the centre, resulting in a long queue outside the building despite the wet and cold conditions.
Some applicants, who asked to remain anonymous, pleaded with government to provide temporary shelter where they could wait while accessing services. They said the challenge was not limited to rainy weather, as extreme heat could also make it difficult for applicants who have to remain outside for extended periods.
The Ministry’s DC Service Centre provides public services including national identity documents, birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, official changes of surname, passports and other travel documents. It also handles immigration and permit services, citizenship matters, legal adoption processing and refugee affairs.
The scene outside the Mlamuli Building on September 28 highlighted the difficulties faced by applicants who have to remain outdoors while waiting for services, particularly during unfavourable weather.
Medical experts warn that extreme heat can cause heat exhaustion and potentially life-threatening heatstroke, while placing additional strain on the cardiovascular system. Damp and rainy conditions can also aggravate respiratory problems, with humidity trapping mould and pollution that may trigger asthma attacks. Warm, wet conditions can further promote fungal and bacterial growth.
Independent News Eswatini contacted the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Communications Officer, Mlandvo Dlamini, for comment on whether the Ministry has plans to provide temporary shelter for applicants waiting outside the centre.
Dlamini was not available when contacted for comment.
The absence of shelter leaves applicants exposed to changing weather conditions while waiting to access essential government services, raising the question of whether a temporary waiting area could be provided, particularly during periods of rain, cold or extreme heat.
The situation also comes as schools prepare for the start of the national Form Five examinations, with some learners seeking identification documents before they sit for their final papers.
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