AfriForum welcomes the Constitutional Court\u2019s confirmation earlier today of a 2023 order by the Supreme Court of Appeal that Section 6(1)(a) of the South African Citizenship Act 88 of 1995 is unconstitutional and invalid. The organisation describes today\u2019s decision as a milestone for thousands of South Africans abroad who, based on this section, automatically lost their citizenship when they, without ministerial permission, acquired the citizenship of another country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe ruling is a giant victory for every South African abroad who lost their citizenship through the application of this section,\u201d explains Sue-Ann de Wet, Head of Diaspora at AfriForum. \u201cCitizenship is incredibly important. It creates a sense of belonging and contributes to a person\u2019s identity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
De Wet stresses that it is regrettable that it has taken the South African government almost three decades to finally rectify this injustice. She describes this injustice as \u201cone that has often unknowingly deprived thousands of South Africans of their constitutional rights\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She believes that this section of the Citizenship Act was one of many ways in which the South African government alienates South African emigrants. The government\u2019s blatant alienation of South Africans abroad is also evident in the Tax Laws Amendment Act, which aims to extract even more money from South Africans working abroad. \u201cOur people abroad are our foremost ambassadors and must be helped to maintain their identity. One thing is certain \u2013 if the state of South Africa\u2019s political and safety environment had been different, far fewer South Africans would have left to seek greener pastures,\u201d concludes De Wet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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