Zuko Komisa
Dr Smile explains why he added his wife’s last name to his.
After years of seeking to add his wife’s name to his own, Alexander, also known as “Dr. Smile,” has officially done it. The well-known dentist announced on social media that he had successfully and lawfully obtained his wife’s name.
According to Bregnam and Moodley attorneys Home Affairs may authorise a man to change his surname. He must apply on the prescribed form, and the name change is placed in the gazette if approved. The husband is not permitted to take his wife’s name except after application to the Director-General.
He also explained why it was important for him to add his wife’s name to his and celebrated that this is “one small step towards changing the system”.
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He further stated he wishes to thank Home Affairs despite the name change process being frustrating, tedious, and laborious.
It’s OFFICIAL! My surname has now legally changed to include my Wife’s!!! “Abedian-Rawháni” ♥️🕺🏻👏🏼🤟🏽🚨
So this is the story. The South African government system, and probably 95% of government systems in the world, automatically give the Wife the surname of the Husband after marriage, or allow her to change or double barrel it and combine both surnames, BUT that’s not the case for the husband, the system doesn’t “allow” it and it’s not assumed that the husband would want to change his coz “men don’t do that” 🤔😤.
What she could sign and change on the marriage certificate I was not able to, and so on the date of our marriage, she assumed our new surname, but I was still Rawhani( because it’s an unequal outdated regressive system founded on patriarchy 👀) …. Annnnnyway, after multiple trips to home affairs, being told “husbands don’t change their surnames to the wife’s, we don’t do that”, many many many forms later, “lost” documents and a million emails to Head Office in PTA , I now have our new surname 😁😁😁😁
One small step towards changing the system, one small step towards helping the future generations challenge unacceptable norms, one small step towards gender equality.
Please call me Alexander Faizi Abedian-Rawháni from now on 😍♥️”
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