Pérdida automática en la adquisición voluntaria de una nacionalidad extranjera (s6(1)(a)) – ELIMINADO
Ciudadanía en South Africa
- Elegibilidad
- La Sección 6(1)(a) de la Ley de Ciudadanía Act 88 of 1995 disponía anteriormente que un ciudadano sudafricano adulto perdía automáticamente la ciudadanía al adquirir voluntaria y formalmente la nacionalidad de otro país (que no sea por matrimonio) sin retención ministerial previa. El Tribunal Constitucional anuló esta disposición en Alianza Democrática contra Ministro del Interior [2025] ZACC 8, confirmando que era inválida desde su promulgación el 6 de octubre 1995 y sosteniendo que se considera que toda persona que perdió la ciudadanía en virtud de ella nunca la perdió. Por lo tanto, la adquisición voluntaria de una nacionalidad extranjera ya no afecta a la ciudadanía sudafricana.
- Plazo
- Provision struck down (ZACC 8/2025) — no longer operative.
- Renuncia
- No requerida
Resumen
Section 6(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act 88 of 1995 formerly provided that an adult South African citizen automatically lost citizenship on voluntarily and formally acquiring another country's nationality (otherwise than by marriage) without prior Ministerial retention. The Constitutional Court struck this provision down in Democratic Alliance v Minister of Home Affairs [2025] ZACC 8, confirming it invalid from its promulgation on 6 October 1995 and holding that everyone who lost citizenship under it is deemed never to have lost it. Voluntarily acquiring a foreign nationality therefore no longer affects South African citizenship.
Base jurídica
Primary statute: SA Citizenship Act 88 of 1995 s6(1)(a) — declared invalid from 1995-10-06 (ZACC 8/2025). Operative 1995-10-06–2025-05-06. Authority: Constitutional Court (ZACC 8/2025) / Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
Escenarios de ejemplo
Los escenarios de ejemplo se muestran en inglés.
Deemed never to have lost SA citizenship — restored automatically.
s6(1)(a) (automatic loss on voluntary foreign-nationality acquisition) was declared invalid retroactive to its promulgation on 6 October 1995 (ZASCA 97/2023, confirmed ZACC 8/2025 order para 3); affected persons are 'deemed not to have lost their citizenship' and regain it automatically with no fresh application. A s15 certificate of citizenship is a confirmatory administrative step only (see ZA-RST-02 for the DHA portal).
Never lost SA citizenship — minors were always exempt.
s6(1)(a) only ever caught a person who acquired foreign nationality 'whilst not being a minor'; because Sibusiso was 15 (a minor, per s1) at acquisition, the auto-loss never applied to him, independent of the later strike-down. He has remained an SA citizen throughout.
Never lost SA citizenship — marriage acquisition excluded.
s6(1)(a) expressly excluded nationality acquired 'other than by marriage'; nationality flowing from marriage never triggered loss (reinforced by s14). Priya's SA citizenship was unaffected even before the provision was struck down.
No loss — voluntarily taking a second nationality no longer affects SA citizenship.
With s6(1)(a) void, voluntary acquisition of a foreign nationality triggers no loss of SA citizenship and no s6(2) retention letter is required (consistent with current DHA/DIRCO guidance). The surviving s6 loss grounds (s6(1)(b)/s6(3) war service) are unrelated to ordinary dual nationality.
Resumen informativo recopilado a partir de fuentes legales primarias: no es asesoramiento jurídico. La ley de ciudadanía cambia; verifica con la autoridad competente antes de actuar. Verificado por última vez el 2026-07-01.
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