Court slams Home Affairs for denying foreign national citizenship after marrying SA woman
Published: 5/Jul/2026
Source: Independent Online (South Africa)
By Sinenhlanhla Masilela
The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has dismissed an application by the Minister of Home Affairs and the Director-General of Home Affairs to overturn an earlier order declaring a foreign national, Mikhail Sakharov as a South African citizen by naturalisation.
Judge Selemeng Mokose rejected the department’s attempt to rescind a September 2024 order that directed Home Affairs to recognise Sakharov’s citizenship, register his birth and issue him with an identity document. The court further found the department in contempt for failing to comply with that order.
The dispute arose after Sakharov, who obtained permanent residence in South Africa in December 2013 and had been married to a South African citizen for more than five years, sought to apply for citizenship by naturalisation.
According to court papers, officials at the department repeatedly refused to accept his citizenship application and insisted that he first apply for verification of his permanent residence permit.