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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 info@groundup.org.za.

What can I do if someone lied about the year they were born when applying for an ID and now wants to rectify it?

He would likely need legal assistance – supplying false information on an identity card could lead to a fine or even imprisonment.

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My late father's ex-wife is trying to claim from his estate; his will can't be executed without their divorce settlement. What do we do?

The executor of the will can contact the Registrar of the High Court where the divorce was finalised and ask for a copy.

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Can the municipality evaluate my late father's RDP house?

The municipality can perform an evaluation on your father's RDP house.

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How can my friend’s child, born in the DRC while her asylum-seeker mother was away, be registered in South Africa?

Your friend should approach organisations such as Scalabrini, who help immigrants and refugees in South Africa.

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A person died months after getting an RDP house. Their neighbour, who also received an RDP house, bought it. Can I lodge a complaint?

You can report an illegal sale of an RDP house to the SAPS and your local Housing Department.

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Can I travel with an expired passport which has my valid work permit and waiver in it, as well as my new Zimbabwean passport?

Yes, it seems that is allowed.

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How can I check if my mother's RDP house was sold illegally?

You will need to visit municipal housing office where your mother applied to ask them whether you would be able to claim back her RDP.

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Where can I complain about poor conditions at a prison?

You can contact the Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Services or the ICCV complaint office at the prison.

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Can I apply for South African citizenship if I was born here to foreign national parents but left before I turned 16?

Generally you can only apply for citizenship through naturalisation if you've only lived in South Africa until you were 18, but you could ask Home Affairs for an exception.

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I tried to register my son a month after he turned 18 for an SRD grant but the website says his ID and grant is already active. What can we do?

SASSA says that if you suspect wrongdoing like that, you must immediately contact their fraud hotline at 0800 601 011, and give them the ID number.

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