Arbitrary Depravation of Citizenship The practice of ID "blocking" A growing number of South Africans have their IDs blocked either because the Department of Home Affairs suspects them of being “illegal immigrants”, or because the ID number has been marked in fraudulent activity or duplicated. In December 2020, in a response to a parliamentary question raised by EFF MP Lorato Tito., Minister Motsoaledi revealed that DHA is investigating close to a million blocked identity documents. [1] An ID is critical in that enables a person to prove their nationality and to access other important rights e.g. the right to education, the right to work, the right to social assistance and the right to vote. Once an ID is blocked it can take the Department of Home Affairs an indefinite time to resolve the issue, leaving the affected person in limbo. To have the ID ‘unblocked’ substantive proof of citizenship must be submitted including birth certificate, DNA test etc. Children whose parents’ IDs have been blocked by the DHA are at risk of statelessness as they will not be able to access birth registration or obtain their own IDs once they turn 16 years old without their parents’ documentation. Parliamentary Question NW2763 to the Minister of Home Affairs, available at: https://pmg.org.za/committee-question/15119/