A victory for identity: Khoi and San names registered

For many South Africans, a name is a simple matter of identity. But for members of the Khoikhoi and San communities, having their indigenous names officially recognised has long been a challenge.

Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, recently handed over the first Smart Identity Document (ID) produced by his department and the Government Printing Works that records a Khoikhoi and San traditional names. The development followed recent upgrades to departmental information technology systems.

Among the first beneficiaries of this change is Lesle Jansen from the Cape Flats.

“My community is the Khoikhoi community,” Jansen said, describing her roots and connection to her cultural heritage.

For Jansen, the moment when she was finally able to have her indigenous name recognised in the Home Affairs system was deeply emotional.

“This was a great feeling. It gave me a lot of hope. I am now able to give my son [!Khūboab Lawrence] his heritage and culture as an African,” she said.

The journey to this moment, however, was not easy. Jansen explained that the difficulties began nearly two decades ago when she tried to register her son’s birth using a culturally significant name.

“My challenge started 18 years ago when I tried to register his birth. We were not able to get his birth certificate in his culturally given name due to the system not accommodating the special characters of the Nama/Khoekhoegowab language,” she said.

According to Jansen, the problem stemmed from the fact that indigenous Khoikhoi and San languages are not among South Africa’s official languages.

“Several of the Khoikhoi cultural groupings were not able to register their names in their indigenous language. They were therefore forced to register their names in English.”

Jansen believes the ability to officially register indigenous names is a matter of constitutional rights and recognition.

“It is important because our South African Constitution guarantees everyone an identity. It guarantees everyone freedom from discrimination. It also guarantees all cultures the right to recognition,” she said.

“The Khoikhoi and San people are part of South African society. It is important that our society also reflects their presence.”

For more information visit www.dha.gov.za