At least a quarter of a million people have been waiting years for their applications for late birth registration to be processed. And this is a conservative estimate, the Children’s Institute says in its papers filed with the Western Cape High Court. The court application seeks to put the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) on terms to take action to tackle the backlog. The institute, represented by the Legal Resources Centre, says the department’s tardy approach to this issue, which affects fundamental rights of children and their parents and caregivers, must be declared unconstitutional. Phemelo speaks to Senior Attorney at the Legal Resources Centre, Cecile van Schalkwyk.