Further Impediments to Citizenship in South Africa Section 10 of the Act allows for the deprivation of a child’s nationality on the basis of their parents’ loss of nationality, which is not only unconstitutional but also contrary to the principle of the best interests of the child. The Citizenship Act only confers citizenship on children born in South Africa (unless they are born to South African parents), but does not offer any protection to unaccompanied or separated migrant children (USMCS) who are not born in South Africa. This category of children requires a special dispensation or exemption permit to be established by the Department of Home Affairs.