The short answer
There are pro bono and means-tested legal organisations who can help you.
The whole question
Dear Athalie
My children were born in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, my late husband had them documented with the wrong details. Because they are not registered properly, my children cannot inherit my assets or those I inherited from my mother. I have tried to correct their details many times but I am told I should get a lawyer because my husband has passed away and I need a witness. I cannot afford a lawyer or the costs required by the Zimbabwean Embassy to change the documentation. How can I fix this problem?
The long answer
You would need to consult a lawyer to help you correct the wrong information on your children’s birth certificates in Zimbabwe. Fortunately, there are organisations of lawyers who are prepared to help people without charging legal fees. As I don’t know which part of South Africa you are living in, I have given a list of four organisations and their contact details in different places in South Africa below:
ProBono.org.za is an organisation that works with lawyers who are prepared to assist people who can’t afford a lawyer. Pro bono means “for the public good”. ProBono has three offices in South Africa: Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. These are their addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers:
Johannesburg:
1st Floor West Wing, Women’s Jail
Constitution Hill
1 Kotze Street, Braamfontein
Phone: 011 339 6080
Email: info@probono.org.za
Durban:
Unit 310
3rd Floor, Cowey Park
91-123 Problem Mkhize Road
Morningside
Durban 4000
Telephone: (031) 301 6178
Email: dbninfo@probono.org.za
Clinics: dbninfo@probono.org.za
Cape Town:
Unit 1021, 2nd Floor
Westminster House
122 Longmarket Street (Cnr. Adderley St.)
Cape Town
Telephone: 087 470 0721
Email: infocpt@probono.org.za
Lawyers for Human Rights;
They provide free legal services to poor and vulnerable people whose rights are being denied. Their general email is info@lhr.org.za. They have four offices:
Johannesburg: 078 315 1269
Durban: 078 301 0531
Musina: 076 766 7782
Cape Town: 021 424 8561
Law clinic at North-West University, Potchefstroom;
The Law Clinic provides free legal services to poor and vulnerable people in North West and Mpumalanga Provinces, at the following three addresses:
Mahikeng
Contact person:
Ms Omphemetse Mmekoa
North-West University
Mahikeng Campus
Corner of Albert Luthuli and University Drive
Mmabatho
2745
Tel: (+27 18) 389-2062/2060
E-mail: LAW-MC@nwu.ac.za
Potchefstroom
Contact person:
Ms Saritha Marais
Main Building F5
North-West University
Potchefstroom Campus
11 Hoffman Street
Potchefstroom
2531
Tel: (+27 18) 299-1568
E-mail: LAW-PC@nwu.ac.za
Vanderbijlpark
Contact person:
Mr Mqakama Radebe
Building 11B G16
North-West University
Vanderbijlpark Campus
Hendrik Van Eck Blvd
Vanderbijlpark
1900
Tel: (+27 16) 910-3483
E-mail: LAW-VTC@nwu.ac.za
Legal Aid;
Legal Aid is a means-tested organisation that must assist people who can’t afford a lawyer. Here are their details:
Legal Aid Advice Line (Toll-free): 0800 110 110
Please-Call-Me number: 079 835 7179
If you get an appointment with any of these organisations, be sure to take all the information and documents that you have about your children’s birth certificates.
Wishing you the best,
Athalie
Answered on March 23, 2022, 3:48 p.m.
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