South Africa: After a decades-long struggle and a court order, Primrose Modisane finally has a birth certificate
Published: 5/Aug/2025
Source: GroundUp (Cape Town)
Stateless since birth, she was called a “border hopper” by Home Affairs officials
By Tania Broughton
Primrose Modisane, who has endured a life of statelessness and a decades-long battle with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), has finally received her South African birth certificate.
Pretoria High Court Judge Mandla Mbongwe ruled in April that Home Affairs must issue Modisane, who was represented in court by Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), with a birth certificate within 30 days.
But this did not happen. Only five months later, and after Modisane, LHR and retired Constitutional Court Judge Johann Kriegler scheduled a media briefing to publicly shame DHA on Tuesday, did the department finally comply with the court order.
Modisane will now be able to apply for a South African Identity Document, allowing her to vote, access grants, and enrol her children in school.
Read further: https://groundup.org.za/article/after-decades-long-struggle-court-order-primose-modisane-finally-has-birth-certificate/