More than 200 000 identity documents are waiting to be collected across the country just two weeks before the general election, the department of home affairs said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Joseph Mohajane said 342 376 people had applied for ID books in the past three months and more than 200 000 documents still needed to be collected.

"It is now taking only 40 days to receive IDs or passports from the department, previously it [took] up to three months or even more for applicants to receive their documents," he said.

"We encourage every one who applied for an ID to check in at the office where they made their application."

He said if the documents were not collected within 12 months, they would be returned to the head office in Pretoria and be kept for another 12 months.

"Thereafter, they will be destroyed."

He said the documents could not be posted as there was the risk that they might get lost. Applicants also have to collect their documents in person to reduce the risk of identity fraud and theft.