Key points
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Primrose Medisane won her 17-year legal battle for an ID.
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Court orders Department of Home Affairs to issue her documents.
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Lawyers for Human Rights played a key role in securing her victory.
Primrose Medisane, a 36-year-old domestic worker, has spent 17 years trying to get a birth certificate and ID.
The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria recently ordered the Department of Home Affairs to give her the documents within 30 days.
This ruling ended a long, difficult journey for Medisane, who faced many challenges due to her lack of legal identity.
Medisane was born in Zimbabwe, but both her mother and grandmother were South African citizens.
Despite providing DNA proof of her connection to South Africa, she never received a birth certificate. Without it, she could not apply for an ID, leaving her stateless for many years.
The court also punished the Department of Home Affairs by ordering them to pay legal costs due to their treatment of Medisane over the years.
The court recognized how hard her life had been because of her lack of legal documents.
A life shaped by being undocumented
Being undocumented caused many problems for Medisane. She could not take her matric exams because she didn’t have an ID.
Despite being a talented student who dreamed of becoming a social worker, she was unable to finish her education.
Medisane was often reminded by teachers that she wouldn’t be able to write her matric exams without an ID.
As an adult, Medisane’s struggles continued. She couldn’t register her children’s births because of her undocumented status.
Her fear grew as her daughters faced trouble enrolling in school. Medisane’s mother also suffered because of their situation.
She was denied medical treatment at a hospital because she lacked legal documents, and by the time she received care, it was too late.
The legal battle and court victory
After years of attempts to get help, Medisane finally turned to Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) for assistance. LHR helped her take her case to court.
In 2023, Medisane’s mother was able to get legal status. But it was Medisane herself who had to fight for her own rights in court.
Medisane shared her heartbreaking story with the court, explaining how she and her family had suffered.
Her grandmother, an 80-year-old South African citizen, was even accused of being in the country illegally. Despite proving their South African roots, Medisane’s family continued to be denied basic rights, like healthcare and education.
The court’s ruling was a major victory for Medisane and offers hope to others facing similar struggles. It also highlights the importance of legal support for people who are denied their basic rights.
