Imagine growing up in South Africa without any legal proof that you exist. Thousands of children are trapped in a backlog of birth registration applications, leaving them unable to access the documents they need and forcing their caregivers into a lengthy bureaucratic struggle. This is the hidden cost of being invisible to the state. Daily Maverick’s Tamsin Metelerkamp reports.
Imagine growing up in South Africa without any legal proof that you exist. Thousands of children are trapped in a backlog of birth registration applications, leaving them unable to access the documents they need and forcing their caregivers into a lengthy bureaucratic struggle. This is the hidden cost of being invisible to the state. Daily Maverick’s Tamsin Metelerkamp reports.
Reporting by: Tamsin Metelerkamp
Filmed by: Joel Seboa
Edited by: Joel Seboa
Produced by: Emilie Gambade
Creative lead by: Malibongwe Tyilo
Sub-edited by: Kevin Flynn
Support journalism that protects democracy.
Become a Maverick Insider. https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick
Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DailyMaverickSA/videos
Follow us on X : https://x.com/dailymaverick
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailymaverick
Check our website: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/
Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/dailymaverick/
Check out our TikTok page: https://www.tiktok.com/@dailymavericksa
Download Daily Maverick Mobile App: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/daily-maverick-app/