NO BIRTH CERTIFICATE | A FATHER’S PAINFUL JOURNEY

By Cuma Pantshwa

• ⁠Children cannot attend school or receive grants due to the lack of birth certificates, reflecting a broader systemic failure.
• ⁠DNA tests required to register paternity are only available in distant Durban and inaccessible to unemployed parents in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
• Mr Mpanza’s case underscores the need for integrated, multi-departmental support to address the complex realities facing vulnerable families.

As the buzzing spirit of those receiving on-the-spot help at the Manguzi Multipurpose Centre fills the air, community members gather at the Ministerial Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP) – a program of Sassa. Some have walked long distances, determined not to miss this rare opportunity to be heard and assisted during the visit of Minister of Social Development, Ms Sisisi Tolashe. Among them is 37-year-old Mr Bongumusa Michael Mpanza—a father carrying more than just hope. He carries the quiet burden of a broken system and a fractured family.
Mr Mpanza’s story reflects the lived reality of many South Africans on the margins—where bureaucratic systems, poverty, and family breakdowns intersect to create quiet crises that too often go unnoticed. He is here seeking urgent help.
Abandoned by the woman he once called a partner, Mr Mpanza now cares for two children—his own four-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old boy who is not biologically his but whom he refuses to abandon. Neither child has a birth certificate.
“No ID means no school and no Child Support Grant,” says Mr Mpanza, seated with Department of Social Development (DSD) social workers, visibly exhausted but determined.
He lives in Nsukumbili, a village within the uMkhanyakude District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, under the jurisdiction of the uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality.
The situation is made even more complex by the requirement for a DNA test to confirm the paternity of his four-year-old daughter. Without it, the Department of Home Affairs cannot register the child in his name. However, these tests are only conducted in Durban—a journey far out of reach for an unemployed father surviving on odd jobs.
Mr Mpanza lives with his 89-year-old mother, who survives on an Old Age Grant. According to recent SASSA records, hers is one of 103,936 social grants paid monthly in the uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality, amounting to R90,737,650.
He had hoped the Department of Health might offer DNA testing services at the outreach, but such services are unavailable on-site. This adds another layer of frustration, as the help he desperately needs remains physically and financially inaccessible.
“I just want my children to go to school like other kids,” he says. “And I will look after both children, even her own.”
His story is one of abandonment and resilience. The woman he was involved with vanished without a trace—leaving her child behind after failing to fetch him from crèche. “She always said she didn’t know her parents and was raised by an aunt,” he recalls.
DSD social workers are now stepping in to explore avenues of support. However, it is important to acknowledge that not all the issues faced by people like Mr Mpanza fall within the Department of Social Development mandate. Some challenges—such as DNA testing, registration processes, and healthcare services—fall under other departments or require coordinated, multi-sectoral responses. While DSD can facilitate and advocate, it cannot fix every systemic gap alone.
This deeply human moment comes just days after the Department of Social Development commemorated the International Day of Families, a day recognizing the critical role families play in society’s foundation. Yet, it also reveals how complex and fragile family dynamics can be, especially in communities grappling with poverty, migration, and informal living conditions.
Stories such as Mr Mpanza’s highlight the necessity for government leaders to be actively engaged in communities—not only to deliver services but to understand the challenges faced by individuals. Minister Tolashe’s presence in Manguzi serves a substantial purpose—it emphasizes the need to enhance outreach efforts, integrate social services, and eliminate the barriers that marginalize the most vulnerable members of society.

The plight of this father is not just about missing documents. It is about dignity. It is about the silent strength of South African families who continue to rise, even when faced with overwhelming challenges.

His story resonates even more deeply during Child Protection Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the rights and safety of children. It is also part of the reason for Minister Tolashe’s visit—to shine a spotlight on the struggles faced by vulnerable children and families, and to drive collective action. This year’s theme, “Working Together to End Violence Against Children,” calls on all sectors of society to unite in removing the barriers that keep children from accessing the care, protection, and opportunities they deserve.