Loss Of Citizenship Campaign
Timeline of the case so far:
2014 to 2018
The DA Abroad gets approached by multiple people who unknowingly lost their citizenship after trying to register to vote.
Over the next few years, the issue is escalated within DA structures, and official communication is established with the Minister through Parliament to resolve the problem.
Eventually, the DA Abroad realises there is no other option but to go to court over the issue.
The Democratic Alliance launches its challenge to section 6(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act of 1995 in the North Gauteng High Court.
The North Gauteng High Court rejects the DA’s challenge.
The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) accepts the DA’s application for leave to appeal to it.
The SCA rules that section 6(1)(a) is constitutionally invalid, concluding that anyone who has lost their South African citizenship after obtaining a foreign citizenship, is in fact still a South African citizen. It is then put to the Constitutional Court, which needs to ratify the verdict.
The Constitutional Court hears the DA Abroad’s case and reserves judgement, postponing the final verdict until further notice.
The Constitutional Court ratifies the SCA’s verdict from June 2023, thus declaring section 6(1)(a) to be unconstitutional. This is a monumental victory for all South Africans who have previously lost their citizenship, and for South Africans who intend to acquire citizenship of another country in the future.
So what’s next?
The most important conclusion of the court order is that anyone who lost their citizenship between 6 October 1995 to 6 May 2025 through section 6(1)(a), has been deemed not to have lost their citizenship.
As such, as of 6 May 2025 all persons affected have automatically been
reinstated as citizens.
The Department of Home Affairs has announced it will create an online portal, operational by June, that will give affected persons the chance to reapply for
South African documents.
The Department will also update their requirements on aspects such as acquiring citizenship of a foreign country, and document renewals at diplomatic missions.
We will share any updates as they are published in the months to come.
Latest News on the Citizenship Campaign
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DA Constitutional Court victory protects citizenship for South Africans
The Constitutional Court ruled today in favour of an application by the DA to secure the citizenship of South Africans with dual nationality.
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Constitutional Court reserves judgement in Citizenship Court Case
On 5 November 2024, the Constitutional Court reserved judgement in the DA Abroad’s citizenship court case following a virtual hearing.
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Press Release
DA Abroad pushes for swift restoration of South African citizenship after landmark court victory