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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].

Is it possible for me to legally own the land that I bought from someone that actually belonged to the municipality?

It is possible if the municipality does not need the land, but it is a long, complex procedure.

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How can I delink my cousin from my late mother's profile at Home Affairs if they refuse to help me?

You could provide sworn affidavits as to their own identities and relationship, and declare that your cousin is not your mother’s child.

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Can I reopen my worker's compensation case if I was retrenched after being injured on duty?

If your injury happened less than two years ago, your injury on duty case should still be open.

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Can I claim my late father’s position in the mine he was working for before he was injured in the 1990s?

Only family members of the 20 miners who died in the Kloof Ikamva shaft accident in 2018 can claim jobs. You will need to apply in the regular way,

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Can a university report unpaid fees to a credit bureau?

It is usually debt collectors rather than universities that report unpaid debts to the credit bureau. You can check your credit status online.

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If I inherit my father's house, do I still qualify for my own RDP? And can my daughter inherit it from me even if we have different last names?

You will not qualify for an RDP house if you inherit your father's house. Your daughter can still inherit from your estate if you have different last names.

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Can I apply for a birth certificate with a duplicate clinic card if I lost the original?

Yes, you can apply for a duplicate clinic card from the hospital where you were born.

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How can my siblings and I sell our late mother’s house without an executor being appointed?

It is not possible to sell the house before an executor is appointed.

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Do I have to give proof of residence of both the houses I own to SASSA, when applying for a social grant?

The proof of residence is only required for the house that you actually live in.

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How do I renew my asylum seeker’s permit?

You can email the RRO where you got your most recent extension to make an appointment or try to renew it online.

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