After 15 Years, Komani Boy Finally Receives Birth Certificate

A Komani born mother and son are breathing a sigh of relief after a 15 years-long battle for citizenship finally came to an end.

Bianca Bless, an unemployed opera singer, received her son Junior’s birth certificate in November last year, a document that had been elusive for over a decade.

Bless, who got pregnant while studying in Houston, Texas, returned to South Africa after a breakdown in her relationship with the child’s father.

Struggling to make ends meet and find a permanent job, Bless has been fighting to get Junior citizenship since 2010.

The US consulate refused to renew his visa without the father’s approval, leaving the family in limbo.

“It was a nightmare. I was only six months away from completing my degree, but I feared for my life and came back home,” she said.

She said Junior’s relative visa expired when he was just five, and the struggles began.

I applied for dual citizenship, but the process was slow, and the family faced numerous setbacks.

“We were told to get a grant at the very least, but I couldn’t even get a job,” Bless said.

“I have been struggling for years, only managing to hold down temporary teacher posts. The lack of citizenship also meant Junior missed out on vaccinations, including Covid-19, as we were told to get them in America,” she said.

Bless hopes her story will highlight the struggles faced by many South Africans fighting for citizenship.

“I feel like I’ve been failed by our government. But I’m just grateful for KPA’s help.”

The turning point came when Komani Protest Action (KPA) approached Bless in September last year.

Within three months, she received her first R350 grant, and Junior’s birth certificate finally arrived.

“I felt like I had been heard,” Bless said, thanking KPA for their support.

Junior, now old enough to understand his struggles, is relieved to have his birth certificate.

“It was tough being left behind during provincial games because I had no certificate,” he said.

“I felt like a foreigner.”

KPA secretary Axolile Masiza slammed the government’s handling of the case.

“The Bless family was failed by those entrusted to serve them. We gave the department seven days to act, and they responded. It’s unacceptable that it took this long.”