I am making this submission to the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, as a citizen and a mother of two children who would be affected by the amendment to BILL B55- 2003 of the Citizenship Act.

My children are both under 21 years of age (20 and 10) at the time of writing this submission. I therefore am writing on their behalf being their legal guardian and mother.

My daughters, Americans by birth and fatherhood and South Africans by virtue of being my children, would be affected by making an amendment to the Citizenship Act, when in fact, they are not at the age at which they can make choices for themselves. I believe that given a choice of which nationality they wanted to keep, it would be an almost impossible task for them or myself for that matter. We well know the searches for identity that have been undertaken by children of the Diaspora in the Americas and the Caribbean. In this regard, my children are lucky_, because as true African -Americans, they have their roots in this great country of ours. They love this country of South Africa and love the country of their birth, the United States as much; therefore putting them in a position where they would have to give up either citizenship, is just not an option we have ever considered.

The penalties alluded to, would also be unfair, both to myself as the parent, and to my children who at-this , stage are too young to make any decisions for themselves, and who for that matter ,never asked to be born of two different nationalities .My elder daughter is studying abroad, and is currently back and forth between her two nations when she gets vacation time. She may have another 5 years to go as a University student, before she has to decide on real life and-life altering matters such as where she-wants-to live, and .to which country her allegiance will be. My 10 year -old daughter does not even understand the matter of citizenship at this point, all she knows is she belongs in two nations.

Nevertheless, confronted as we are by the possibility of amending the bill, we would wish the portfolio committee to consider not imposing penalties up to age 25. We believe anyone faced with the prospect of making a life altering decision such as choosing ones citizenship, would be fully capable at age 25 to have a say in the matter, and faced with penalties, be able to decide for themselves whether they wish to still hold on to either of their citizenship.