A 69-year-old pensioner whose name is Emile Ratelband, who says he identifies as a 49-year-old has lost a bid to legally change his age in an appeal to a court. According to the court; “The court did not find any reason in Mr. Ratelband’s arguments to create new case law in line with the statutory provisions on changes to a person’s officially registered name or gender. Its main reason was that unlike the situation with respect to a change in registered name or gender, there are a variety of rights and duties related to age, such as the right to vote and the duty to attend school. If Mr. 
Ratelband’s request was allowed, those age requirements would become meaningless”. But according to Ratelband who said his age put him at a disadvantage, said; “I have done a check-up and what does it show? My biological age is 45 years. When I’m 69, I am limited. If I’m 49, then I can buy a new house, drive a different car. I can take up more work. When I’m on Tinder and it says I’m 69, I don’t get an answer. When I’m 49, with the face I have, I will be in a luxurious position. Transgenders can now have their gender changed on their birth certificate, and in the same spirit, there should be room for an age change”.
 Photo Credit: Getty
