Stellenbosch University (SU) first-year LLB student, !Khūboab Lawrence, finally received an identity document (ID) with the correct spelling of his traditional Khoi name at the Stellenbosch home affairs offices after 18 years. His story highlighted institutional challenges with special characters in names, including registration at SU.
!Khūboab Lawrence, a first-year LLB student at Stellenbosch University, holds his Smart ID with the correct spelling of his traditional Khoi name. PHOTO: Emma Giles
Lawrence’s mother, Lesle Jansen-Lawrence, wanted to “build [his] name around its meaning” and given their Khoi lineage, she was drawn to an indigenous name, !Khūboab. “It means man of God,” said Lawrence. Previously, The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) system could not include the special characters in his name, resulting in the spelling “Kh~boab” on his identity documents.
From Lawrence’s birth certificate to his passport, none of his official documentation included the correct spelling of his name. Jansen-Lawrence had sent many letters to the DHA and had even considered taking the issue to the Constitutional Court as “every child has the right to a name and a nationality from birth”, according to Section 28(1)(a) of the Constitution of South Africa.
What was most “jarring” for Lawrence was that the special characters in his name are part of the Khoekhoegowab or Nama language, which is the language of the Khoi and San people. Despite being one of the oldest languages in South Africa, it is not recognised as an official language.
!Khūboab Lawrence’s previous passport document with the incorrect spelling of his name due to missing characters in the outdated home affairs system. (Content is hidden for privacy purposes) PHOTO: Emma Giles
Things started to shift when a reporter from Cape Argus, Tracy-Lynn Ruiters, interviewed Lawrence at his high school, Reddam House Constantia, when he was receiving his matric results. He expressed his concerns about possibly not obtaining an ID with the correct spelling of his name and the challenges this might bring with university registration. She followed up on the story, where her media enquiry to home affairs prompted a response from Leon Schreiber, home affairs minister.
Lawrence said he was “sitting in [his] room” in Stellenbosch, when he received a message from Carli van Wyk, the minister’s spokesperson, saying they had printed his ID with the correct spelling of his name. He then went to the official handover on 26 February, where Schreiber presented the ID. Schreiber also confirmed that the system was updated for future cases such as this. This marked a “historic victory for the inclusion, equity and dignity of Khoi-san communities,” he said.
The correct pronunciation of !Khūboab’s name.
The new ID has created a huge sense of relief for Lawrence and his family. “I asked him what he wanted for his eighteenth birthday and he said he wanted his ID. As a parent it hurts to know you cannot give your child what they need,” said his mother, Jansen-Lawrence. “It has taken a big stress off our shoulders,” she said.
This is also a significant moment for the Khoi and San community, said Jansen-Lawrence. “It gave a sense of hope [the Khoi and San people] were longing for. Many contacted me to ask if they can now register names in their indigenous language,” she said. “For them to have the freedom to decide and express their presence as part of the South African tapestry. That is huge,” she said.
!Khūboab Lawrence’s new ID document with the correct spelling of his name, following the updated home affairs system. (Content is hidden for privacy purposes) PHOTO: Emma Giles
Lawrence’s story has highlighted institutional challenges when including special characters in names, as SU does not allow for this during registration. This has been the case for many other students.
“My name actually doesn’t include the accent line on the ‘e’ in my name on SUNLearn,” said Renée Rabie, a third-year BSc microbiology and biotechnology student. “To be fair I’m used to it by now since almost all sites where you have to give your name don’t show special characters,” she said.
“Most special characters used in names are accommodated. Characters such as @, #, %, &, \, /, < or Unicode symbols which are used for system commands do create challenges, but they are generally not used in the spelling of names,” said Martin Viljoen, SU’s spokesperson.
Viljoen explained that SU can register changes to the names of students once proof of the change is provided, such as with a passport or ID. SU is “mandated to ensure that our systems reflect a true and accurate representation of all students,” said Viljoen. This is especially important for scenarios where accurate documentation is essential, such as graduation, he said.
While the Student Information System (SUNStudent) may be able to accommodate special characters, other SU systems may require changes. “Should a system not currently accommodate this requirement, the university will need to pursue the necessary system logic enhancements,” he said.
Despite multiple attempts to contact the DHA, SMF News did not receive a response by time of publication.