Sabinet Discover: Your guide to gazetted information, including surname changes
There are various personal reasons that may prompt an individual to contemplate changing their name or surname. In South Africa, legal avenues for changing one’s surname are primarily limited to specific life events like marriage, divorce, or adoption.
If you want to change your name for religious or cultural reasons, or if you simply want to be known by a different name, there is a process that needs to be followed.
Legal grounds for surname changes
Upon marriage, divorce, or widowhood, women have the legal flexibility to decide whether to keep or change their surname. Options include reverting to their birth name, adopting a prior surname, or in the case of marriage combining their birth name and their spouse’s surname into a double-barreled surname. Notably, a woman’s choice is not limited to her spouse’s surname. Men, on the other hand, are currently constrained to the formal name change process.
For those seeking a surname change not covered by default options, a formal application to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is mandatory. This application must present a “good and sufficient reason”. Following DHA approval, the change must be published in the Government Gazettes, adding a layer of transparency to the process.
The process commences with the submission of a surname change application to the DHA. A thorough examination of the reasons for the change is conducted by Home Affairs officials. If deemed valid, the Director General (DG) authorises the change, initiating the publication of the amended name in the Government Gazette.
The publication serves a dual purpose: it informs the public of the impending change and opens a window for potential objections. During this waiting period, objections can be raised by the public.
If no valid objections arise or if any concerns are satisfactorily resolved, the change becomes official.
Upon the conclusion of the waiting period, the DG issues a Certificate from the Population Register, confirming the change. This process, from application to publication and approval, typically spans three to four months. Once the change is official, individuals can then proceed to update their details with relevant institutions.
Where to find name change applications?
If you are seeking to find name change applications, South African Government Gazettes on Sabinet Discover should be your first port of call. The service offers a comprehensive repository of accessible and current gazetted information, from surname changes to other vital information such as legislation, regulations, proclamations, deceased estates notices, legal notices, liquor notices, liquidations, and road carrier permits.
South African Gazettes are available to all. They may be purchased in their original print form or downloaded from a provider such as Sabinet Discover. While ordering a printed copy directly from the Government Printing Works remains a reliable option, the modern preference leans towards the convenience of online reading or downloading PDFs, allowing users to print specific pages of interest as needed.
While the government provides free access to gazetted information online, finding the precise article one may be seeking in such an extensive online library can be like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack without the help of an efficient search facility. Consequently, many of those who regularly need to consult back issues of South African gazettes and other publications are finding it far easier to subscribe to Sabinet Discover.