? 3 If my parents are ZEP holders, which documents do I need in South Africa? You need to have a birth certificate. All children must have a birth certificate. It is the very first step to documentation. The country where you are born must give you a birth certificate. A birth certificate proves where you were born, and who your parents are. This is important to maintain your identity. It is important to know that a birth certificate is not proof of citizenship. 2