Caught Between a Hard Rock and a Hard Place!
Following my previous update, the response from the Department of Home Affairs headquarters confirmed that Tapiwa’s profile is in their system but has yet to be re-activated. This can only happen if his father, Trevor Tutu, complies with the necessary requirements, including submitting the relevant applications and availing himself for fingerprinting.
In January 2025, we approached the Department of Home Affairs office in Randburg to inform them that the High Court had not yet ruled on our case. The Randburg office reiterated that Tapiwa could not be issued a South African ID until Trevor had complied with the fingerprinting requirement for Tapiwa’s ID application form.
The manager at the Randburg office even took us to his colleagues in the Department of Immigration on the same site to discuss the status of Tapiwa. The immigration authorities confirmed that, based on overwhelming evidence, Tapiwa is a South African by birth and origin. They saw no reason why he should be issued a visa as a foreigner. However, they declined to comment on whether Tapiwa would be considered an illegal immigrant in the absence of a visa in his foreigner’s passport and his undefined South African nationality status. They mentioned that they had never encountered such a situation and suggested we wait until the High Court decides on the application to insert his father’s name on his birth certificate.
At the same time, the immigration authorities cautioned Tapiwa against attempting to leave South Africa through the airports, as he could be declared an unwanted illegal immigrant. The only option available to Tapiwa was to remain in limbo in South Africa, with no clear pathway to obtaining his South African identity and no prospects of obtaining a visa in his foreign passport.
Our struggle continues, and while it remains a challenging situation, we are determined to persist in our fight for Tapiwa’s rightful identity and access to the services and rights he is entitled to as a South African.
October 21, 2024
Our communications with the Department of Home Affairs have revealed significant bureaucratic challenges. Despite the Randburg court’s 2009 order confirming Trevor Tutu as Munashe’s biological father and directing him to sign the necessary forms, critical paperwork has been lost or improperly processed.
Munashe’s recent visit to the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that without Trevor’s explicit consent, his name cannot be added to the birth certificate. This continues to complicate our quest for Munashe’s rightful identity and access to essential services, including public healthcare.
In my recent correspondence with Dr. Leon Amos Schreiber, the Minister of Home Affairs, I emphasized the urgency of our situation. The prolonged denial of Munashe’s identity not only impacts his emotional well-being but also imposes significant financial burdens on our family. If Trevor’s name were added, it would grant Munashe access to publicly funded programs like healthcare and education and, alleviate the need for costly visas, which are currently a source of financial strain.
I am currently awaiting a response from the Department of Home Affairs, who have indicated they are looking into our issue. It is crucial that they understand the full context and urgency of our situation. The lack of action on Trevor’s part, compounded by bureaucratic delays, continues to deny Munashe access to public-funded programs, such as education and healthcare.
We are determined to push forward and seek justice for Munashe, and I hope to have positive news to share soon.