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Topic: Home Affairs | Show questions and answers for all topics
Yes, both partners in a civil union can choose what surnames they will be known by.
The fact that you use her maiden surname and she has changed hers does not make you any less her son.
If you were born outside South Africa and one of your parents was South African, and the birth was registered, you should be able to claim South African citizenship by descent.
Your girlfriend will have to apply for a Late Birth Registration (LBR).
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.
You can contact Home Affairs to appeal your status as a "prohibited person".
You can submit ID and passport applications and payments on the eHomeAffairs website.
The child will have to apply for temporary visas to be legal, and apply for citizenship when they are 18 if they have only lived in South Africa.
You can phone their hotline but you will probably have better luck if you get help from a non-government organisation.
It would be best if you can get another trusted adult to go with you, but sometimes these processes at Home Affairs prove difficult.