A growing number of South Africans are giving up their citizenship to adopt those of other countries.
In a written reply to a parliamentary question on Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi said 2 892 South Africans gave up their citizenship last year.
The figures for 2000 and 2001 were 232 and 1 536 respectively.
Buthelezi said the reason most commonly given was ”acquisition of foreign citizenship in respect of countries that do not allow dual citizenship”.
Replying to a separate question, he said 10 890 South Africans had officially emigrated last year.
The figures for 2000 and 2001 were 10 262 and 12 260 respectively.
Replying to a further question on the number of ”scam” marriages in South Africa last year, he said his department had received 596 complaints.
These were from ”persons who found themselves married to foreigners without their knowledge”.
”According to the information on the marriage registers concerned, the foreigners appear to be mainly Pakistanis and Nigerians,” he said. – Sapa