Uncertainty about property rights: AfriForum advises emigrants to protect citizenship
Published: 26/Feb/2015
Source: Worldwide
AfriForum noted with concern President Jacob Zuma’s announcement during the State of the Nation Address of 2015 that foreign citizens will no longer be allowed to own land in South Africa, but may only be considered for long term leases. This announcement may also have consequences for South Africans married to foreigners or living abroad. It will only become clear how they will be affected when the bill on this subject is submitted to Parliament.
According to Sue-Ann de Wet, Coordinator of AfriForum’s Worldwide Campaign, many South Africans unwittingly lose their South African citizenship when they apply for another citizenship abroad, without first obtaining permission from the South African Department of Home Affairs to retain the South African citizenship. The citizenship can only be resumed upon proving that they are back in South Africa permanently. Few people are aware of this.
Read more.