South Africa: Struggle to get ID

Published: 6/Jul/2021
Source: News24 (Johannesburg)

A Kensington matric learner and deputy head girl of her school says her right to education is being violated.

Karolyn Mujinga (18) was born in South Africa to a Congolese mother.

But she says for the past two years she has been unsuccessful in her attempts to get an Identity Document (ID). The only document the teen currently has is her unabridged birth certificate.

Mujinga says when she turned 18, she was excited because she had high hopes that her luck would change. But instead, she was told that she must apply for South African citizenship; a process which Mujinga describes as lengthy and full of dead ends.

According to the Department of Home Affairs’ website, refugee reception centres will remain closed (due to the pandemic) and refugees are requested to make use of the department’s online service platform.

Read further: https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/Local/Peoples-Post/struggle-to-get-id-20210705

Themes: Acquisition of nationality, Naturalisation and Marriage, ID Documents and Passports, Nationality and Refugees
Regions: South Africa
Year: 2021