South Africa: Report no 27 of 2019/20 on an investigation into allegations of maladministration by the Department of Home Affairs in respect of the alleged improper revocation of a minor child’s birth certificate and consequently his South African citizenship
Published: 7/Jun/2019
Source: Public Protector South Africa
The Complainant is a South African citizen who had a child with a Zimbabwean national who held a Permanent Residence Certificate in the Republic at the time the child was born on 11 December 2014.
Finds that:
“The cancellation of the child’s birth certificate accompanied by the request that the Complainant undertake a paternity test were improper and had no basis in law. The Department infringed the child’s constitutional right to citizenship. Furthermore, the Department’s conduct contravened the constitutional injunction to treat the child’s best interests with paramount importance in every matter concerning a child.”
Download report: http://www.pprotect.org/?q=content/report-no-27-201920-investigation-allegations-maladministration-department-home-affairs