Couples urged to register customary marriage before deadline
Mavuso says failure to meet the deadline doesn't automatically invalidate the marriage.
The Department of Home Affairs urges couples to register their customary marriages before today's deadline. This special registration period, which started on September 1, 2024, allows for the legalization of marriages not registered within the prescribed period. This includes unions that took place prior to November 2000, when the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act came into force, as well as those not registered within the required timeframe after its enactment.
Department Deputy Director-General Thulani Mavuso cautions that missing the deadline does not automatically invalidate the marriage. While the marriage remains valid, he advises individuals to register promptly. Without a Home Affairs certificate, proving the marriage in the event of a spouse's passing can be challenging. Mavuso emphasizes that registering is crucial, as it simplifies the process of proving marital status, especially during succession matters following a spouse's death.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
