has been limited in terms of opportunities to make an income. For many years, all efforts to obtain birth registration from the Department of Home Affairs were unsuccessful due to administrative barriers. He eventually succeeded in the first quarter of 2021, following interventions from Lawyers for Human Rights, UNHCR and the Morning Live Show. When his birth certificate was finally issued, he learnt for the first time, that one of his several attempts to apply for a birth certificate had been captured, and ID number issued but his application was never finalized and thus the birth certificate not issued. Equipped with a birth certificate and ID, he will now further his studies, he plans to study law, and help others in a similar situation. Sihle had the following recommendations for the Department of Home Affairs: (1) establish measures to ensure complete and equal access to birth registration;(2) address administrative gaps that pose as barriers to birth registration. The keynote address on day two was delivered by H.E Archbishop Buti Tlhagale (O.M.I), Liaison Bishop Southern African Bishops Confernce, the Southern African Catholic Bishop’s Conference (SACBC) liaison Bishop for Migrants and Refugees, #IBelong Campaign High Profile Supporter for South Africa. In his remarks, the Archbishop Buti Tlhagale applauded Southern Africa on positive steps to address statelessness in the region and made the following observations:  birth registration in the region is very low. Reference was made to South Africa which has the highest rate of birth registration in Southern Africa. However, though it is common practice and a legal obligation, discriminatory practices prevent access to birth registration by undocumented nationals and non-nationals. This in turn impacts access to basic rights including access to education.  despite pledges made by the South African Government in 2011 and 2019, South Africa is yet to accede to both the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. With three more years to mark the end of #IBelong Campaign, there is a need to critically review achievements and aim to do better. In conclusion Archbishop Tlhagale made the following recommendations, calling on:  the government of South Africa to ensure access to universal birth registration and access to education; and for states to take note of the SDG’s which make provision for legal identity for all, including birth registration. 3