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Answers to your questions

Have a question you would like answered? Email us and we may answer it. The questions here are based on ones from our readers, with identifying information removed.

Please note: GroundUp is just a news agency. We are not lawyers or financial advisors, and we have nothing to do with SASSA, Home Affairs, or any other government bodies. We do our best to make the answers accurate using publicly available information, but we cannot accept any legal liability if there are errors. If you notice any discrepancies, please email [email protected].

I’m the fideicommissary heir but my sister won’t give me the keys to our home after our mom, the surviving spouse, died. What can I do?

If the will names you as the fideicommissary heir, you may have a legal right to the property. Consult the Master’s Office for help.

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I was abandoned by my parents, and don't have an ID or proof of birth documents. How can I apply for an ID on my own?

If your birth was registered, you can get a copy of your birth certificate from Home Affairs. If not, you will need to apply through the Late Registration of Birth process.

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We are struggling to pay school fees. The school has just handed us over to the sheriff's department. What can we do?

If you can't afford school fees, you should apply for a fee exemption or negotiate a payment plan before legal action is taken.

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Home Affairs “lost” my spouse’s permanent residency application, now he is facing deportation. What can we do?

If an application for permanent residency is wrongfully rejected, you can apply to the Director-General of Home Affairs to review the decision.

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I was retrenched in November 2024. I was told my next UIF payout will be the last, but I should have enough credits for eight months.

UIF payments are based on your last four years of work, if they're ending early despite having credit, follow up with UIF for clarity.

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My half-brother applied for an authority letter to claim our late father’s inheritance. How can we be included to get our share?

If your father died without a will, all four children are equal heirs and should have had a say in who got the letter of authority. You can write to the Master of the High Court over your concerns.

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I need to register my customary marriage so that I can get divorced, but my husband is refusing to give me his ID. What can I do?

Yes, you can use your husband's ID number to register your customary marriage.

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How long after a car accident can the family of a deceased claim from the RAF?

A hit-and-run accident has to be reported within two years to the RAF. The claim itself must be finalised within five years.

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I’m a trans person living in a small town in the WC and have struggled to access hormonal replacement therapy. Where can I go for help?

You can ask your GP to refer you to Groote Schuur Hospital's Transgender Unit or contact the Desmond Tutu LGBT+ Health Division at the hospital.

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I was injured on duty in June 2021 and my employer did not file a compensation claim. What can I do?

Your employer was supposed to report your injury, but since they didn’t, you should go to the Department of Labour with all your documents to see if you can still get help.

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