Last chance for couples: Register your customary marriage by end of August
Time is running out! Couples with unregistered customary marriages must act now—only six days remain to secure your marital recognition before the August 31, 2026, deadline.
Couples with yet-to-be registered customary marriages have a mere six days remaining to complete the registration before a crucial deadline on August 31, 2026, according to the Department of Home Affairs. The department is strongly encouraging qualifying couples to finalize their customary marriage registrations promptly to avoid potential queues at Home Affairs offices.
The special registration window, which commenced on September 1, 2024, permits couples with customary marriages not registered within the prescribed period to formalize their marital status. This includes marriages that transpired prior to the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act's inception in November 2000 and those entered after the Act's implementation but lacking proper registration.
The department is urging those who qualify not to postpone their applications as the deadline draws near. The department emphasized, “The Department urges qualifying couples to register without delay to avoid unnecessary queues as the deadline approaches.” Furthermore, traditional and community leaders, as well as civil society organizations, are being asked to assist in raising awareness regarding the impending deadline to ensure affected couples are adequately informed.
The registration process holds significant importance for couples seeking formal documentation and acknowledgment of their customary marriages. Home Affairs advised members of the public seeking information about the application process or required supporting documents to visit their nearest Home Affairs office. The special registration period concludes on August 31, 2026.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
