Unreasonable requirements for single mothers and poor black kids

I contacted ABSA with the view of opening a bank account for my aunt's daugter. This is the request I made: I am not her legal guardian, nor is there any intention in the family to make me her legal guardian (due to expense, time periods, and legal requirements). This is simple an agreement with the family that I will look after her, provide for all her needs, schooling, transport, food, clothing etc because her mother cannot afford to give her the life that I can.

Part of giving her that life is to make sure that besides her schooling needs, is providing her financial freedom and education. Opening a bank account teaches her to manage her money properly and to save.

I was refused opening an account because I am not a legal guardian. I explained to her the long process, expense and requirements for being appointed a legal guardian.

At the branch, even the consultant agreed with me about how unreasonable, and how discriminatory and how it does not look at the composition of African families. Her other colleague also confirmed that in her experience, only black people are affected by the requirement that one should be a legal guardian in order to open a bank account.

So these were the options that I was given: 1. wait till she's 16 or (2) open in my name and let her transact using my account. I may not know my banking laws, but isn't it ******* to transact on someone else's bank account?

But my drama does not end there, I was told that I could not open an account for my son because we have different surnames! This is despite the fact that I have his birth certificate that clearly lists me as his mother!!!!!! I was told I need to go find his father so he can open the bank account for my son! I have not spoken to the man since 2012, don't know where to find him, and I am solely responsible for all of my son's needs. So now, because I have the misfortune of him having his dad's surname, I now can't open bank account for my son!!!!!!

So what I need to know fromABSA, are you going to deny a black child a chance to open bank accoutns and learn to manage their finances solely because they are poor or they have no fathers? I can estimate that there are millions of households who are looking after and providing for relatives without necessarily have legal guadianship letters, as well as single parent homes.

During Easter holodays, I travelled with her, and the only thing I needed was an affidavit from her mom to take her out of the country. How is it then that ABSA want legal documents that are burdensome and unreasonable for a normal black family. Or are you saying that a poor black child is not worth getting a bank account?