The Mail & Guardian | Africa's Better Future

citizenshiplatest news & developments

Bullying tactics: Operation Dudula members have taken it upon themselves to mount surveillance in public health centres, preventing foreigners from using South African clinics. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

Xenophobia, ignorance and civic deficits: Rethinking African attitudes toward migrants in public spaces

The hostility directed at migrants often stems from ignorance of civic rights and scapegoating by politicians wanting to deflect blame from their ineptitude

Samuel Okunade

South Africans who lost their citizenship when they acquired the nationality of another country now have it back.

Landmark concourt decision overturns the duel over dual citizenship

The constitutional court found that section 6(1)(a) of the South African Citizenship Act is unconstitutional as it infringes the right to citizenship and, consequentially, other…

Wilmien van Biljon & Peter Michaels

A Zimbabwean woman moves through a hole cut in the border fence while illegally crossing from Zimbabwe into South Africa. (John Moore/Getty Images)

AARON MOTSOALEDI

Mbeki takes aim at Motsoaledi’s white paper on migration

The former president pointed to several inconsistencies in the paper, and called for it to be improved

Lizeka Tandwa

Africa’s migration challenge cannot be resolved through enforcement alone. Nor can it be addressed through abstract continental declarations disconnected from implementation realities.

Supreme court of appeal ruling allows lost citizens back

Since 1995, South Africans who gained citizenship of another country lost their local one, but the court said home affairs had given no legitimate purpose for this

Tania Broughton

Voting tactically may seem like a realistic, mature option, but it compromises the integrity of your vote and is corrosive to the long-term health of democracy. (Photo by OJ Koloti/Gallo Images via Getty Images)

Local government elections: Why it’s rational to vote with your heart

Voting tactically may seem like a realistic, mature option, but it compromises the integrity of your vote and is corrosive to the long-term health of democracy

Simon Abbott

Victory: Cleopatra Kambugu, who has fought for trans people’s rights, had hers recognised when she got her ID saying she was female

Meet Uganda’s first transgender citizen

Cleopatra Kambugu is the first Ugandan whose transition has been recognised by the state

The Continent

Zama Ndlovu: Lessons from China to the ANC — No one policy can be correct indefinitely

China’s decision on edtech firms demonstrates a desire to achieve equity even at the expense of profits, and there are lessons for South Africa

Zama Ndlovu

Already slow processes are now even worse, with inconsistency in residence and other applications creating huge uncertainty

Pandemic set to cause home affairs delays for years to come

Already slow processes are now even worse, with inconsistency in residence and other applications creating huge uncertainty

Stefanie de Saude Darbandi

Men armed with crude weapons on the outskirts of Ramaphosa in 2008, shortly before they gave chase to several men who appeared to evade the attack by hiding in nearby mine dumps. (James Oatway)

[BR]OTHER: Xenophobia born of dreams deferred

A new book of images and essays about the Afrophobic violence in South Africa attempts to take the narrative forward

Kwanele Sosibo

Not only did George Bizos fight, he also left us a manual — the Constitution — with which we can continue to honour his and his colleagues’ legacies.

Reflections on George Bizos, on whose shoulders we stand

The conviction of young activists is going to play a huge role in sustaining and improving on the legacy of our struggle heroes

Kay-Dee Mashile

Citizenship can’t be taught in a module

Citizenship can’t be taught in a module

Universities have an ethical duty to cultivate safe and inclusive spaces of recognition and respect

Nuraan Davids

On the line: People have to face a number of obstacles, including long waits at various home affairs offices (above), in order to get the birth certificates, identity documents and passports. (Madelene Cronjé/M&G)

BONGEKILE MACUPE

Schools expel children with no IDs

A case at the Makhanda high court this week could be the only hope for those who don’t have birth certificates to attend school

Bongekile Macupe

(Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Systemic prejudice in the UK, and visa refusals for African academics

Accusations of racism continue to be directed towards the UK following an inquiry concerning denials of visit visas for African applicants

Maddie Grounds

Twenty-five years ago, South Africa went to the polls in elections that would bring Nelson Mandela to power. (Walter Dhladla/AFP)

Democracy needs to be democratised

Too few South Africans are able to participate in systems that allow their voices to be heard

Point Author

One cause of statelessness is non-state territories. Countries such as Somaliland are still struggling to gain statehood and for recognition. (Zohra Bensemra/Reuters)

Citizens of nowhere suffer social and physical deprivations

Statelessness is an affront to human rights and a breach of international law, and countries must be forced to put an end to it

Staff Reporter

Ashu Chawla (middle)(Image: Abigail Javier)

How Home Affairs was Gupta’d

Ashu Chawla’s whereabouts remain unknown and the explanation his lawyer has given to MPs eagerly anticipating his testimony is suspicious

Raeesa Pather

Gigaba is also alleged, in the #GuptaLeaks, to have granted citizenship to some Gupta family members through unduly waiving a residency requirement. (David Harrison/M&G)

Gigaba, Apleni to testify on day two of Gupta naturalisation inquiry

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba will testify under oath on his role in the Guptas’ alleged capture of his department

Raeesa Pather

The controversy over the Guptas citizenship arose when home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba publicly said that Atul Gupta is not a South African citizen, only to correct himself and say that Atul is a citizen. (Gallo)

Parliament continues investigation into Gupta naturalisation

The second phase of the inquiry is set to begin on Wednesday

Raeesa Pather

Zweli Mkhize said National Treasury would consider and approve roll-over applications from municipalities on registered projects, committed and unspent funds.

The faces behind SA’s citizenship nightmare

Home affairs’ continued intransigence and the private sector’s reluctance to employ legal immigrants are taking a heavy personal toll

Dan Brotman

‘Notions of democratic citizenship are seemingly inextricably embedded in particular sets of rights — meaning

Educate for democracy in Africa

Africans can become citizens by acting democratically and claiming their identity

Nuraan Davids