Home Affairs has left a quarter of a million people waiting years for birth certificates

Loading player...
At least a quarter of a million people have been waiting years for their applications
for late birth registration to be processed. And this is a conservative estimate, the
Children’s Institute says in its papers filed with the Western Cape High Court. The
court application seeks to put the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) on terms to
take action to tackle the backlog. The institute, represented by the Legal Resources
Centre, says the department’s tardy approach to this issue, which affects
fundamental rights of children and their parents and caregivers, must be declared
unconstitutional. Phemelo speaks to Senior Attorney at the Legal Resources Centre,
Cecile van Schalkwyk.
17 Jun 2025 4PM English South Africa Education · Careers

Other recent episodes

Parliament kicks off podcast regulation talks

South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies held a roundtable to discuss the future of podcasting. With smartphone use and internet access booming, the sector is rapidly growing - but regulation remains a question. Committee Chair Khusela Sangoni-Diko says the session was meant to spark dialogue between legislators,…
25 Mar 4PM 19 min

AfriForum demands accountability over Mbalula’s Dubai trip

Lobby group AfriForum says the NPA’s inaction on ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula’s R680 000 Dubai trip in 2016 is politically motivated and damages South Africa’s reputation. In a dossier released Wednesday, AfriForum accused Mbalula of fraud, money laundering, and reckless diplomacy that could upset trade with the US. “If these…
25 Mar 4PM 15 min

Ex-SAPS officer denies killing “Witness D”

Former Special Task Force officer Matipandile Sotheni has denied murdering Marius van der Merwe, known as “Witness D,” at his Brakpan home in December 2025. Appearing in Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, the 41-year-old faces multiple charges, including premeditated murder, conspiracy, attempted murder, and illegal possession of ammunition. Phemelo speaks…
25 Mar 4PM 6 min

Eastern Cape’s Botha Sigcau building gutted by fire

A major fire destroyed the 11-storey Botha Sigcau building in Mthatha on Tuesday night, home to multiple government offices. Firefighters contained the blaze before it reached nearby vehicles, but one emergency worker was hospitalized for smoke inhalation. The OR Tambo District Municipality declared the incident a local disaster, and investigators…
25 Mar 4PM 6 min

Gauteng Health chases R4.6bn in unpaid patient fees

The Gauteng Health Department is on a major debt recovery drive, trying to claw back a staggering R4.6 billion in unpaid patient fees. More than half is owed by self-paying patients, while medical schemes and government entities make up the rest. Despite appointing debt collectors last year, only a fraction…
24 Mar 4PM 27 min