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Answers to your questions

Have a question you would like answered? Email us and we may answer it. The questions here are based on ones from our readers, with identifying information removed.

Please note: GroundUp is just a news agency. We are not lawyers or financial advisors, and we have nothing to do with SASSA, Home Affairs, or any other government bodies. We do our best to make the answers accurate using publicly available information, but we cannot accept any legal liability if there are errors. If you notice any discrepancies, please email info@groundup.org.za.

How can I reduce the electricity tariff of my new flat?

Speak to your local municipality. It may help to have an affidavit explaining the situation.

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Why won't the UIF and pension fund pay my wife's money into her Mukuru Bank account?

They may have a specific reason, so you'll need to ask them. If they won't help, you can lay a complaint.

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Can my relative go back on a verbal agreement we made over a decade ago to give me his property?

When it comes to property, agreements must be in writing and signed by all parties involved.

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How can I get an ID if my birth wasn't registered and I lost my clinic card?

Make an affidavit and apply for a duplicate clinic card from the hospital where you were born.

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I was a child when my mother died three years ago. How can I get a duplicate of her ID and report her death to the Masters Office?

If you have something with her ID number on, go to Home Affairs and ask them to help you with the ID. You can report her death by lodging a completed death notice.

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What can I do if my partner who is serving a life sentence is being denied the right to request parole and the right to adequate health care?

You could lay a complaint at the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS).

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Will withdrawing my provident fund affect my disability grant income?

It depends whether your monthly provident fund withdrawals put you over the maximum allowed income to qualify for the disability grant.

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Can the child of a deceased domestic worker claim money from their parent's employer if no pension was paid out?

There is no law compelling employers of domestic workers to provide a pension, but they do need to register the worker for UIF.

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I have been waiting years for Home Affairs to change my marital status. What can I do?

Home Affairs is dealing with a huge backlog of applications. You may need legal aid to compel them to process yours now.

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Can I get South African citizenship by descent if I was born in another country?

Yes, but you may need to prove that you are the biological child of a South African citizen.

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