The South African Human Rights Commission’s (“the Commission”) Gauteng Provincial Office will investigate the alleged arrest and detention of a minor by the South African Police Service (SAPS) officials for not carrying a birth certificate/identity document. 

The complaint before the Commission alleges that the minor was walking alone when SAPS officials requested that the complainant produce “documents”. The complainant allegedly advised the officials that she was a South African minor and therefore did not need to carry a birth certificate. The officials detained her under the assumption that she was a foreign national though she advised them of the contrary. 

This incident has prompted the Commission to investigate these allegations as the Commission has previously raised concerns about the arbitrary detention of persons on the assumption that they are undocumented foreign nationals.  

The investigation is ongoing. 

Submitted by the South African Human Rights Commission