WATCH: Children born in SA to foreign parents are not entitled to SA citizenship, says court
A court reveals that children born in South Africa to foreign parents are not automatically entitled to South African citizenship.
![WATCH: Children born in SA to foreign parents are not entitled to SA citizenship, says court](https://www.thesouthafrican.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1200x858-2024-07-22T132543.154.jpg.optimal.jpg?#)
The Polokwane High Court turned down an application by Zimbabwean parents for their children to be issued with South African birth certificates.
CHILDREN BORN IN SA TO FOREIGN PARENTS
IOL reported in 2023 that a Zimbabwean couple wanted the Department of Home Affairs to issue their children with South African birth certificates.
The parents who are in the country on a working permit have children born between 2010 and 2016. Their three children were given unabridged birth certificates for non-citizens.
The parents argued that the department’s refusal was unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid. They were prompted by the fact their children were all born in South Africa and didn’t have Zimbabwean citizenship or nationality.
They were told the only assistance they could get from the department was to be issued with unabridged birth certificates for non-South African citizens.
Attorney Issac Moselane confirmed to Capricorn FM in 2023 that a child born to foreign nationals cannot be issued with a South African birth certificate, even though the child was born in South Africa.
Immigration expert Gary Eisenberg tells eNCA: “Before the 1st of January 2013, if a person was born in South Africa of a single permanent resident parent, that person was born a South African resident.”
[WATCH INTERVIEW BELOW]
MISS SA DEFENDS CHIDIMMA ONWE ADETSHINA
The Miss SA organisation recently defended Chidimma Onwe Adetshina who received criticisim on social media due to her Nigerian roots.
“Chidimma is a South African citizen. She has met all the requirements to be a part of the Miss South Africa competition. Her mother is South African (Zulu), and her father is Nigerian,” says the organisation.
Adetshina tells Sowetan that she was born at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital to a Nigerian father and mother of Mozambique descent.
“My dad is a proud Nigerian, and my mother was born and raised in South Africa but has roots from Mozambique. My mom’s family still lives in Soweto, and I visit them from time to time,” she says.
Do you agree with the ruling?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news