The father of a Dutch family that has been living in South Africa since 1996, and has South African children, has been ordered to leave the country by the end of next week. The order came from Home Affairs in Cape Town.

The family has been struggling with the department for 17 years to live and work legally in South Africa. Although the order is made against the father, it is effectively forcing the family to leave the country. By Tariro Washinyira for GROUNDUP.

Thijs Van Hillegondsberg arrived in South Africa in 1996 from the Netherlands. He came with his wife, Patricia Poelmann, and his son Ludo, who was then three years old. The couple also adopted two South African children in 2001, Thembisa, who is now 18, and Johan, who is 16. They live in the Strand.

In April 2012, a Public Protector report titled Unconscionable Delay was released by Advocate Madonsela. It established that Home Affairs had failed the family and abused its power.

Madonsela recommended that the Department set things right with the family by invoking ministerial powers and changing the family's temporary residency status. She urged the department to issue the family permanent residency in South...