A 50-year-old man, Joseph Khathutshelo Nelushi from Tshandama village near Thohoyandou, says his life has been on hold for more than three decades because of suspected identity fraud. Despite opening a police case and repeatedly visiting the Department of Home Affairs, Nelushi claims no meaningful action was taken until media pressure finally elicited a response.
Nelushi said the ordeal had begun in the early 1990s when he had tried to register the birth of his child. Officials told him his South African ID number was already in use. Since then, he has been unable to access basic services – from applying for an RDP house to getting a bank loan or renewing his driver's licence.
He suspects the issue stems from a Zimbabwean man, known only as "John", who had lived with Nelushi's family in the early 1990s and worked for his late mother. Nelushi believes the man may have fraudulently assumed his identity and used it to access state services, including applying for and receiving an RDP house in Musina that is now registered in Nelushi's name.
"I once applied for a loan at a bank, and they showed me a photo linked to my ID. It was him – the man who stayed at our home and worked for my mother. I feel like I don't exist in my own country. I can't work or register anything in my name," he said.
Nelushi opened a case at Thohoyandou police station in 2012. It was later transferred to Musina SAPS, where he was told the suspect was believed to be living. "But to this day, no one has been arrested. I've never heard anything back about the case."
Making matters worse, Nelushi believes his late mother may have been involved in the irregular use of his identity documents. His original birth certificate disappeared, and she became evasive when questioned. "I think there was a deal made behind my back," he said.
The situation has also affected his children, who have had to take their mother's surname. "I tried applying for a smart ID in Pretoria last year, but they told me I needed my mother's ID and death certificate. Even after I brought those documents, they told me I was a foreigner."
Limpopo Mirror sent detailed questions about Nelushi's case to the Department of Home Affairs on 2 May. Although the department acknowledged receipt, no official response was received, despite several follow-ups. On 28 May, the query was escalated to Duwayne Esau, spokesperson for the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber. Esau requested that the inquiry be emailed directly to him, which was done.
Instead of providing an official response, a Home Affairs official from Pretoria contacted Nelushi directly on Monday, 3 June, and issued him with a new South African ID number. He was advised to reapply for a smart ID.
Nelushi said he was cautiously optimistic. "I'm a bit relieved that I can finally apply for a smart ID again. But the issue is not fully resolved. Will they cancel the other person's ID? Will they reclaim the RDP house? Because of this problem, I've been struggling to renew my licence and I am unable to work. I've been transporting schoolchildren here in Boksburg just to survive."
The newspaper also followed up with the police, using the case number provided. According to Vhembe police spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi, the number is linked to a different matter: a suspect charged under the Liquor Act for drunkenness and disorderly behaviour.
When asked to verify Nelushi's ID number, police records showed that it belonged to a man named Khathutshelo Joseph Nelushi, who was arrested with three others on 16 May 2025 in Musina. "The charges relate to suspected possession of stolen property, under SAPS Musina case number 255/05/2025."
It is unclear whether this arrested person is the same individual Nelushi accused of stealing his identity.