Pretoria - A Boksburg man who had a gender reassignment procedure done nearly 30 years ago, but struggled all this time to have his identity document reflect that he is no longer a woman, this week eventually got his way.
But after struggling for more than 26 nightmare years to be legally recognised as a man, Stephen Lombard could only achieve this when he turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria.
The court this week gave the Department of Home Affairs 20 days to reflect his gender as male on his ID document, together with a new picture reflecting that he is now a man.
Lombard was either ignored by the department over the years, or he was told that his fingerprints did not match that on his old document.
The 49-year-old meanwhile struggled for nearly three decades to enjoy the benefits other South African citizens with valid ID documents have.
“I have been discriminated against on the grounds of gender and sex and have been deprived of basic human rights and dignity. The lack of a correct ID document affects my life on a daily basis as I cannot conduct basic transactions that require that I produce my ID book”
He said in court papers that he was even beaten up by officials when he tried to get his driver’s licence.
“I was accused of fraud and beaten by unnamed officials as it is evident from my appearance that I am a man, but my ID document reflects that I am a woman," he stated.
Pretoria News