Recently, the High Court delivered a judgment that could lead to some South Africans who live abroad to lose their citizenship. The judge found that the SA Citizenship Act does not deprive South Africans of their citizenship because a provision was made for them to apply to retain their citizenship prior to applying for foreign citizenship.
Stefanie De Saude Darbandi, one of SA’s foremost immigration law experts said that the procedures for requesting the retention of citizenship are deeply flawed.
During an interview, she said that, “There’s nothing in our law that compels a South African to inform Home Affairs if they decide to take up another citizenship. They aren’t aware they need to apply for retention. Practically, it [applying to retain citizenship] doesn’t work. You’re given the wrong advice, the application is delayed, you’re turned away. So what should you do? Administrative disfunction it’s a broken Department. There’s an excuse for everything.”
The DA reportedly intends to make an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal against the whole of the judgment and order, arguing that the High Court erroneously assumed that those who lost their citizenship intended to do so and that citizens seeking advice at SA embassies worldwide are often given bad advice.
Sources: MSN, Business Day
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