POLOKWANE – Five years ago, Sophina Letsoalo gave birth to a baby girl at the Mankweng Provincial Hospital but the inability of Home Affairs to issue her daughter with a birth certificate has stopped her daughter from fully engaging in life.
Letsoalo gave birth on June 2, 2017 and when she was supposed to apply for the birth certificate at the hospital, Home Affairs officials informed her of a system issue and that she would have to visit the offices to apply.
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A week later, Letsoalo was unable to apply for her daughter’s birth certificate, as office officials informed her that her own ID indicated that she was male.
“I never realised that my ID was incorrect. I had been using it all my life, and if it had not been for the birth of my daughter I would still be registered as male. I was told to change my gender status first and when my new ID was back, that I would then be able to apply for the birth certificate.”
Her new ID was issued three months later, and when she went back to Home Affairs in Mankweng, more obstacles awaited. She was told that the process of applying for the birth certificate would need her to be called back for an interview after she applied, and only if she passed the interview would the birth certificate be issued. Letsoalo said she applied, but never got called for an interview.
She returned to the offices another three times, always receiving the same answer.
“My daughter’s life is stuck. She attended preschool without a birth certificate but was supposed to enroll for Gr R this year at a public school. They denied her admission as she does not have the proper documentation. I fear that she will be left behind because there does not seem to be light at the end of this tunnel.”
BONUS contacted Albert Matsaung, the provincial manager at Home Affairs, who assisted in tracking down the application. He confirmed that the delay in issuing the birth certificate was because the office in Mankweng could not get hold of Letsoalo.
“According to our protocol, we need to call the applicant three times and if we are unable to reach them, the file is closed. Our records show that we tried to call her more than the three times with no luck.”
BONUS assisted the office with Letsoalo’s new number and her daughter’s birth certificate has been issued since.
