Was I allowed to vote?

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Sabbz

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I'm a British citizen, with a South African Permanent Resident status, I've been in the country for 16 years (if that makes any difference).

Was I allowed to vote?
 
Didn't bother trying since I don't feel there are any parties worth voting for. The question is more for educational purposes :)
 
Sabbz said:
I'm a British citizen, with a South African Permanent Resident status, I've been in the country for 16 years (if that makes any difference).

Was I allowed to vote?
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No, my wife is in the same position. US Citizen. You can only vote if you take up SA citizenship... in other words revoke your other citizenship. Permanant residence does not mean anything (except that you could become a citizen almost instantly).
 
Sabbz said:
I'm a British citizen, with a South African Permanent Resident status, I've been in the country for 16 years (if that makes any difference).

Was I allowed to vote?
Click to expand...

Why not... how do you think the ANC keeps winning... letting foreign africans vote for them (condition of entry) .. just my opinion :D
 
Sabbz said:
I'm a British citizen, with a South African Permanent Resident status, I've been in the country for 16 years (if that makes any difference).

Was I allowed to vote?
Click to expand...

As you have lived in SA so long you do qualify to become a citizen. You would have had to be granted citizenship by home affairs first before being able to vote though.
 
Anyone know what they look at when deciding if a permanent resident should become a citizen? Is it just a matter of living here for x number of years or do they look at something else as well?
 
Sabbz said:
I'm a British citizen, with a South African Permanent Resident status, I've been in the country for 16 years (if that makes any difference).

Was I allowed to vote?
Click to expand...
Sounds like we're in the same boat. Have you considered becoming a SA Citizen?
 
hj2k_x said:
Anyone know what they look at when deciding if a permanent resident should become a citizen? Is it just a matter of living here for x number of years or do they look at something else as well?
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Anyone with five years of permanent residency qualifies for naturalisation - two years if married to a SA Citizen.
 
bwana said:
Sounds like we're in the same boat. Have you considered becoming a SA Citizen?
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Not really, I like my Pommie Pass ;)


Edit: But if I can get duel-citizenship and have both an SA and a Pommie Pass then I have no probs becoming a citizen of SA :)
 
Sabbz said:
Not really, I like my Pommie Pass ;)


Edit: But if I can get duel-citizenship and have both an SA and a Pommie Pass then I have no probs becoming a citizen of SA :)
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This used to be possible my old girl did it but was a long while back..
 
Sabbz said:
Not really, I like my Pommie Pass ;)


Edit: But if I can get duel-citizenship and have both an SA and a Pommie Pass then I have no probs becoming a citizen of SA :)
Click to expand...
You wont have to renounce your UK citizenship if that's what you're worried about.
 
As stated previously, to the best of my knowledge you can obtain dual nationality after 5 years of permanent residence, without jepordising your existing citizenship, though you might want to confirm that with the British Consulate / Mission nearest to you, and also with home affairs.
Maintaining dual nationality can complicate matters in terms of certain categories of government service - the military can be sticky about it, and the intelligence agencies are probably even more so, for example - but so long as you're not in that line of work, it shouldn't be a problem at all. But again, your best bet is to speak to home affairs and the Consulate to see what they have to say on the matter.
 
As far as I know you cant take up duel nationality anymore? there was a article in beeld not so long ago about a few SA citizens who had their citizenship provoked after they got British nationality.
 
Morgoth said:
As far as I know you cant take up duel nationality anymore? there was a article in beeld not so long ago about a few SA citizens who had their citizenship provoked after they got British nationality.
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That practice was declared unconstitutional a while back. I'll dig up the home affairs announcement when I get back to my pc. My kids are recent dual nationals and should be tri nationals by mid year.

EDIT - google kicked this up http://www.southafrica.info/services/rights/dualcitizenship.htm
 
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