Over 30 000 South Africans obtained their identity documents or other forms of identification over the weekend so as to register for the coming local government elections, the Department of Home Affairs said on Monday.

"Departmental officials, who committed themselves to working full days over the weekend in pursuance of the department's constitutional mandate to assist the IEC deliver free, fair and credible elections, assisted 31 118 South Africans in all nine provinces," said department spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa in a statement.

Out of that number, 20 516 people collected their IDs from various home affairs offices around the country, while the remainder were issued with temporary identity certificates.

This was highly commended by department minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma who reiterated her appreciation to the officials who availed themselves throughout the extended hours.

Mamoepa said the department was ready to assist more people to acquire enabling documents, to allow them to vote in the run up to the elections on a date still to be announced.

Those who have not yet collected their IDs were urged to do so as soon as possible. This should be done where applications were made.

Mamoepa said a total of 9 060 new ID applications were received.