By Nontobeko Mtshali
It's difficult being dead, when you're actually alive.
Ask Claude Pretorius.
He's been battling since 2006 to prove that he's a living, breathing human being - so that he can get a passport and licence discs for his vehicles.
The problem started four years ago when he went to the Department of Home Affairs to apply for a passport.
"They told me that I could not apply for a passport as I am deceased. I had to go to the police station to get a sworn affidavit stating that I am Claude Pretorius with this ID number," he said.
In August that year, Pretorius got a new ID book with a new ID number and changed his details with bank and insurance companies. He even bought a new car in his name, and there were no glitches.
Until last year, when his death came back to haunt him.
"I purchased a used caravan and went to the traffic department to do a change of ownership and to pay for my other bakkie's and first caravan's new licence discs.
"This is when I found out that my status has again been changed to deceased on their eNatis system."
He has been to Home Affairs and they've provided him with records to prove that he's alive and that his ID book is valid, but the traffic department will not accept the documents.
To them, he's dead.
But they still referred Pretorius to the Department of Public Transport Roads and Public Works to sort out the mess.
He got some documentation that the Joburg metro police accepted, but on June 8, a traffic officer "issued me with a traffic fine for not licensing my vehicle," said Pretorius.
"How is it possible for me to purchase cars, but the minute I need to obtain any form of licensing, I am declared deceased?"
Joburg metro police spokeswoman Edna Mamonyane, advised Pretorius to go to the metro police offices and ask the director to help him.
All well and good - except that his wife's marital status was changed to widow and remains that way.