DESPITE two court orders instructing the Department of Home Affairs to amend four siblings’ certificates and spending more than R35 000 in legal fees, the siblings’ birth certificates have still not been amended.
According to Ashley resident, Tanya Strydom, their father passed away in 1984 his dad’s date of birth was incorrectly captured by the Department of Home Affairs. Tanya and her three siblings are trying to obtain Greek citizenship as their dad was Greek, but have been unable to as a result of the incorrect date.
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At first, Tanya and her sisters were told by Home Affairs they cannot change the date because the person has passed away.
They then sought legal advice and spent more than R35 000 in legal fees to bring a High Court application for his ID number to be amended.
“The first court order was dated 3 June 2015 ordering Home Affairs to amend the necessary papers, and the second was dated 1 June 2016, being a contempt order.
“The second order instructed Home Affairs to amend the papers within 20 days, failing which the minister would be arrested but another year has passed. My dad has been allocated a new ID number, his death certificate and marriage certificates have been amended, but our birth certificates have still not been amended,” explained Tanya.
She said their attorney has now advised that they will need to go to court yet again to put pressure on the Home Affairs Department.
Also read: Crime outside Home Affairs raises residents’ ire
“We also only obtained party, and party costs prior the second order, so basically, we have recovered R11 000 of the R35 000 spent (which despite being taxed, we have still not received payment from HA),” said Tanya.
The Highway Mail asked Home affairs for comment but has not receive a response before going to print.
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