Probe into mothers selling their children’s birth certificates to foreigners

THE Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is probing allegations that mothers are selling their children’s original birth certificates to foreigners after several instances came to light where 18-year-olds tried to apply for ID documents and couldn't produce their original birth certificates.

- TRACY-LYNN RUITERS

The first cases came to light in Cape Town when the manager for Home Affairs in Mitchells Plain, Shereen Meyer, mentioned it in a community meeting attended by stakeholders and residents.

Meyer confirmed to The Mercury's sister newspaper Weekend Argus, that an internal investigation was underway after the matter came to the department's attention when several learners applying for their identity documents (IDs) in matric were unable to produce birth certificates.

“Our citizenship is not to be sold,” said Meyer firmly during the meeting, warning of the seriousness of such offences.

The Department of Home Affairs has since confirmed it is investigating the claims. Siyabulela Qoza, spokesperson for the department, said they were aware of three such cases and were probing whether more instances may have occurred. He also confirmed that, from what they have seen, the incidents do not appear to be stemming from the office, referencing that there is no involvement of employees.