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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.

My husband passed away and I cannot afford to pay the debt. What can I do?

The best thing to do is to go to the bank and explain your position to them.

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What should I do if I got married under civil law without legally divorcing my first wife that I married under customary law?

You need to legally divorce your first wife. You can then "re-marry" your current wife.

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Can I go alone to register our customary marriage 15 years after lobola was paid?

Yes, either spouse or both spouses can register the customary marriage at Home Affairs - but try to get your husband to come along.

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What can I do if my sibling has a parent's will and they won't allow the rest of the siblings to read the will?

No person is allowed to liquidate or distribute the estate of a deceased person without a letter of authority.

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Home Affairs refuses to give us permanent residency even though we were born in South Africa, and our parents and siblings have permanent residency. What can we do?

As you were both born in South Africa before 2014, you still automatically qualify for citizenship provided you have not lived anywhere else but South Africa.

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How do I report a person who illegally used my daughter's ID to register for the SRD R350 grant?

Your daughter should immediately report it to SASSA, PostBank or theSouth African Fraud Prevention Service

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What can I do after my house was searched by the police with no search warrant?

The police is required to ask your consent to search the property without a warrant and tell you the purpose of the search. You should call a lawyer.

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What can I do if SARS keeps declining my tax directive application to access my provident fund? My Malawian passport expired and I lost my job six months ago.

If your tax directive application is declined, it may be due to incorrect data captured

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Can I, a non-South African, write my matric exams if I only have a valid passport?

Yes, you can write your matric exams and get your results with a valid passport.

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Can I extend my shack without getting in trouble withย law enforcement?

You can apply for a shack extension permit from the Informal Settlements Management Department.

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