Urgent: Register your customary marriage before the August 31, 2026 deadline
Couples have just six days left to register their customary marriages before the August 31, 2026 deadline. The Department of Home Affairs urges qualifying couples to act quickly to ensure their marital status is recognised.
Couples with unregistered customary marriages have just six days remaining to complete the registration process before an August 31, 2026 deadline. The Department of Home Affairs has urged qualifying couples to register their marriages promptly to avoid last-minute queues and ensure their marital status is officially recognized.
This special registration period, which began on September 1, 2024, allows couples to regularise their marital status, regardless of whether their customary marriages were entered into before or after the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act took effect in November 2000. The department has emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating, "The Department urges qualifying couples to register without delay to avoid unnecessary queues as the deadline approaches."
Traditional and community leaders, along with civil society organisations, have been encouraged to assist in spreading awareness about the approaching deadline to ensure that affected couples are informed. The registration process is crucial for couples seeking formal documentation and recognition of their customary marriages. Those requiring information about the application procedure or necessary supporting documents are advised to visit their nearest Home Affairs office, as the special registration window is set to close 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.
