Kwa-Thema – Elvis Fakudze’s life has come to a standstill because he has no birth certificate.

“The woman who raised me found me at the Daveyton Mall in 2010. I lived with her in Daveyton for a few years, and then we moved to Kwa-Thema, where I finished primary school,” he explained.

Fakudze said that despite all the challenges, he enjoyed going to school.

“My dream has always been to study education when I finish matric. I completed Grade 12 in 2024. I applied to a few institutions, but I cannot move forward without an identification document,” he added.

Fakudze explained that his mother made many attempts to secure a birth certificate for him before she died in 2023.

“For a long time, my mother kept it a secret that I was not her biological son. I was unaware that I did not have a birth certificate. As I got closer to matric, she told me the truth,” he said.

Together, they approached a local NPO, hoping the social workers would assist him in getting an ID.

“No one has been able to help me. It is scary because when I think about going to the police, I wonder if officers will arrest me for not having any form of ID. I am frustrated because I want to do so much more with my life, but I am just stuck,” he lamented.

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