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South African Citizenship Act, 1995 (Act No. 88 of 1995)

Chapter 1 : Definitions and Interpretation of Act

1. Definitions

 

In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates—

 

"alien"

[Definition deleted by section 1 of Act No. 17 of 2010]

 

"customary union"

[Definition deleted by section 1 of Act No. 17 of 2010]

 

"Children's Act"

means the Children's Act, 2005 (Act No. 38 of 2005);

[Definition inserted by section 1 of Act No. 17 of 2010)

 

"Constitution"

means the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996;

[Definition inserted by section 1 of Act No. 17 of 2010]

 

"Department"

means the Department of Home Affairs;

 

"foreigner"

means a person who is not a South African citizen

[Definition inserted by section 1 of Act No. 17 of 2010]

 

"former states"

means—

(a) the former Republic of Transkei as referred to in the Status of Transkei Act, 1976 (Act No. 100 of 1976);
(b) the former Republic of Bophuthatswana as referred to in the Status of Bophuthatswana Act, 1977 (Act No. 89 of 1977);
(c) the former Republic of Venda as referred to in the Status of Venda Act, 1979 (Act No. 107 of 1979); and
(d) the former Republic of Ciskei as referred to in the Status of Ciskei Act, 1981 (Act No. 110 of 1981);

 

"husband"

[Definition deleted by section 1 of Act No. 17 of 2010]

 

"Immigration Act"

means the Immigration Act, 2001 (Act No. 13 of 2002);

[Definition inserted by section 1 of Act No. 17 of 2010]

 

"major"

means any person who has attained the age of 18 years;

[Definition amended by section 1 of Act No. 17 of 2010]

 

"marriage"

means—

(a) a marriage concluded in terms of—
(i) the Marriage Act, 1961 (Act No. 25 of 1961); or
(ii) the Recognition of customary Marriages Act, 1998 (Act No. 120 of 1998);
(b) a civil union concluded in terms of the Civil Union Act, 2006 (Act No. 17 of 2006); or
(c) a marriage concluded in terms of the laws of a foreign country;

[Definition amended by section 1 of Act No. 17 of 2010]

 

"Minister"

means the Minister of Home Affairs;

 

"minor"

means any person who is not a major;

[Definition amended by section 1 of Act No. 17 of 2010]

 

"permanent residence"

means permanent residence in terms of the Immigration Act;

[Definition inserted by section 1 of Act No. 17 of 2010]

 

"permanent resident"

means a person having permanent residence status in terms of the Immigration Act;

[Definition inserted by section 1 of Act No. 17 of 2010]

 

"prescribed"

means prescribed by regulation;

[Definition amended by Schedule 3 of Act No. 13 of 2002]

 

"prior law"

means any law repealed by section 26;

 

"regulation"

means a regulation made under section 23;

 

"Republic"

means the Republic of South Africa as referred to in section 1 of the Constitution;

 

"responsible parent"

means a parent contemplated in Chapter 3 of the Children's Act;

[Definition amended by section 1 of Act No. 17 of 2010]

 

"South African citizenship by registration"

[Definition deleted by section 1 of Act No. 69 of 1997]

 

"spouse"

means a person who is a party to a marriage recognised in terms of this Act;

[Definition amended by section 1 of Act No. 17 of 2010]

 

"this Act"

includes the Schedules to the Act and the regulations;

 

"wife"

[Definition deleted by section 1 of Act No. 17 of 2010].