Most of us can easily take for granted: a name, a legal existence, a place in the system. But for Siphesihle Khumalo, that fundamental right was denied. She lived 18 years without legal recognition – until now.
South Africa (08 October 2025) – Many of us, for as long as we can remember, have always known our names and those very names recognised by those around us, the system we are part of, and imprinted on all our legal documents. However, for Siphesihle Khumalo, this has not always been the case. In fact, until recently, she lived for 18 years without legal recognition.
Like the thousands of young South Africans who fall through the cracks of a rigid birth registration system, Siphesihle never had a birth certificate. It was a challenging reality she managed to navigate until it came down to writing her matric last year.
Just weeks before her final exams, she was told she could not write, not because of her grades or attendance, but because she did not have a birth certificate.
Without a birth certificate, there was also no way Siphesihle could collect her matric results (even after being given the chance to write), apply for bursaries, register for university or even get a learner’s licence.
Realising the detriment of how the absence of a single document stood between her and her future, Siphesihle’s father, Thokozani Shozi, approached the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) for help in November 2024.
“Our attorneys immediately intervened, reminding the school of the Phakamisa Judgment, which protects the rights of learners without documentation. Thanks to this intervention, Siphesihle was allowed to write her matric exams and complete her final year.
But even after passing matric, she remained trapped by bureaucracy. Months passed with no progress on her late birth registration,” LRC states.
Following continuous communication with the Department of Home Affairs, Siphesihle was finally contacted for her long-anticipated interview. In August 2025, she received her birth certificate!
For the first time, Siphesihle can now apply to study, pursue work opportunities, and plan for her future with certainty. She has finally claimed her right to belong, to dream, and to build the life she has worked so hard for.
“We are so glad that Siphesihle reached out to the LRC. We can only imagine how long she might have waited for a birth certificate without support. While our impact may seem small, to Siphesihle, it means everything. And at the LRC, we will continue to fight against late birth registration, one person at a time,” LRC said.
The LRC is an independent, non-profit public interest law centre that seeks to empower individuals and communities through the law, promoting social justice, championing equality, and realising the human rights enshrined in the South African Constitution.
For more information, call 011 038 9709 or email Info@lrc.org.za
Sources: Legal Resources Centre
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