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].
Topic: Home Affairs | Show questions and answers for all topics
Can an abandoned child get a birth certificate?
Yes, but you may need help to get Home Affairs to comply.
How can I renew my asylum seeker status online?
Email the refugee reception office where your last extension was made.
Is it possible for Zimbabwean asylum seekers to apply for South African IDs during lockdown?
No, only South Africans can apply for SA identity documents. Here is how to renew your asylum permit online.
Can I change my surname without my parents' permission?
If you are older than 18, you don't need your parents' permission.
Can I renew my asylum permit online?
Home Affairs online asylum renewal process has not yet started.
How can we apply for an ID for our foster child that has a mental disability? Home Affairs and Social Services refuse to help.
You may need legal intervention to compel Social Services to issue the required documentation for Home Affairs.
What is the asylum application procedure?
You need to apply at the nearest Refugee Reception Office, but all the offices are closed during lockdown.
I have been waiting almost three years for my permanent resident visa and I am desperate for help
You may need legal assistance
How can I register for Grade 11 if I have been out of school for a long time?
If you are younger than 21, you would apply to a school by the last day of the first term, for the following year.
Has Home Affairs said anything regarding the Angolan Special Permit due to expire at the end of 2021?
Unfortunately not. You may want to reach out to Scalabrini.