Email Suggests Cabinet May Discuss Dual Citizenship After All

After Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba reassured the media and public last week on Thursday that a review of dual citizenship is not on the cards, it has been revealed today that the government is gathering statistics on South Africans with dual citizenship.

A message sent to South Africans in the Philippines this morning, from the South African Embassy in Manila, was forwarded to SAPeople.

[quote_center]”Missions are hereby requested to provide Head Office with information on the number of South African nationals abroad who hold dual citizenships.”[/quote_center]

In the email, sent by an Embassy secretary, South Africans are requested to indicate with a Yes or a No whether they hold dual citizenship, and if so, from which other country.

Recipients are asked to respond urgently, by noon tomorrow (Tuesday 15 September 2015).

The letter has been sent by direction of the Head Office of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO, which was formerly the Dept of Foreign Affairs).

SAPeople contacted the Embassy which forwarded DIRCO’s message to us in which Andrea Kühn, Acting Chief Director: South, South East and Central Asia, says that the information is “required for a meeting that will be convened by members of the Cabinet next week.”

[quote_center]”This information is required for a meeting that will be convened by members of the Cabinet next week.”[/quote_center]

Kühn’s full message is: “By direction of the Deputy Director-General Asia and Middle East, Missions are hereby requested to provide Head Office with information on the number of South African nationals abroad who hold dual citizenships. This information is required for a meeting that will be convened by members of the Cabinet next week. Please indicate a nil return where applicable. Your urgent assistance is appreciated.”

SAPeople tried to contact DIRCO for further information a few hours ago, but we have not had any response yet.

Perhaps the gathering of this data is simply to have the statistics on hand.

A South African in Manila who received the email however says: “I find it interesting that suddenly South Africa is doing research into dual citizenship yet they say this is not on their agenda!!!

“Is this incidental information more important than for example research on their embassy response times etc?”

Meanwhile President Jacob Zuma will give an update on South Africa’s foreign policy when he meets with foreign ambassadors and high commissioners (heads of missions) resident in South Africa tomorrow (Tuesday, 15 September 2015) in Pretoria. His meeting is scheduled for 14h00 at the Union Buildings. President Zuma will discuss South Africa’s approach and standpoint on various African and foreign policy issues.