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.
Can I take a second wife is the first was a civil marriage?
No, if you have a civil marriage, you are only allowed to have one marriage at a time.
How do you change the title deed of a property bought from the council?
Like with other properties, the title deed is transferred by a conveyancing attorney.
Can Zimbabwean Exemption Permits be renewed yet?
Unfortunately, Home Affairs has not communicated what will happen when the ZEPs expire on 31 December 2021.
I am a minor. What can I do if my parent is being neglectful?
You can contact Childline South Africa. Social workers try to help parents look after their children better.
Can I change my surname without my parents' permission?
If you are older than 18, you don't need your parents' permission.
How will doing consulting work for the company that retrenched me affect my UIF claim?
It depends how many hours you worked and whether you classify as a true independent contractor.
My sister-in-law was awarded an RDP house but it is being occupied by someone claiming to have bought it. What can she do?
She needs to ask the municipality of the MEC of housing to intervene. Legal help may be needed.
How can I get my stepmother to include me as a beneficiary of my late father's estate?
You might automatically qualify as a dependant if you meet the requirements of the pension fund, regardless of your stepmother's preference.
Can I renew my asylum permit online?
Home Affairs online asylum renewal process has not yet started.
How can I transfer the property that my mother bought in 1993 to my name if it was never transferred to her?
You need to negotiate a new deal with the municipality that issued the Deed of Sale.