Dear Minister Motsoaledi,

I trust you are doing well. I am writing to you today, as a lost resort. I sincerely hope and trust that this message will reach you, or another appropriate person.

on the 26 May 2021 I applied to change (correct) my surname. I want to take up my fathers surname. Long story short, Head Office (Pretoria) sent my application back to the DHA local office where I made this application (Beaufort West). This application was allegedly sent in January 2022. To this day, the local DHA office claims to have never received my documentation from Head Office. I have called the national helpline (0800601190) on multiple occasions to check the status of my application. Today, after yet another call to the above mentioned national helpline I was informed that my application was suspended. I don't understand how this could be done when I have been doing everything that I could do on my end? why was I not contacted to inform me about this decision?

I am feeling completely despondent and helpless about this situation. Initiating the process to change (correct) my surname was not easy. Not only did I get opposition on multiple fronts, most people discouraged me by insisting that having to deal with government (and with the DHA in particular) was going to be an absolute disaster. Still I went ahead, because changing (correcting) my name has cultural/traditional implications (all process that is currently on hold). More than that, it is about restoring my human dignity. It is about correcting a historical injustice.

I have all the documentary proof and reference numbers and will share them with you if needs be. All I ask is that somebody, anybody, help resolve this matter.

Lets prove the naysayers wrong. Lets illustrate that this is capable and caring government that serve its people.

I am in Cape Town, Western Cape. I provided my email address when filling in this form. I sincerely hope somebody will contact me with a solution.

I thank you.