The Constitutional Court of South Africa will deliver a landmark judgment today, May 6, 2025, at 14:00, on the constitutionality of section 6(1)(a) of the South African Citizenship Act.
This section automatically strips South Africans of their citizenship if they voluntarily acquire another country’s citizenship without prior permission from the Minister of Home Affairs.
The case, Democratic Alliance v Minister of Home Affairs and Another (CCT 184/23), follows a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling that declared the law unconstitutional.
The opposition party initially challenged the provision in 2021, arguing it violates constitutional rights like freedom of association and equality.
The High Court had upheld the law, citing the state’s right to regulate citizenship.
The Constitutional Court’s decision could reshape dual citizenship policies, potentially reinstating citizenship for those previously affected, depending on whether the ruling applies retroactively.
