Deadline looms for South Africans to register customary marriages
· The South African
South Africans who have not yet registered their customary marriages are being urged to do so before a special registration period closes at the end of August.
The Department of Home Affairs has reminded qualifying couples that the deadline is 31 August 2026, and that the registration process allows them to formalise and regularise their marital status.
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The special registration period applies to customary marriages concluded before the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act came into effect in November 2000, as well as to marriages entered into after the Act came into force but not registered within the required timeframe.
South African couples urged not to wait
With the deadline fast approaching, Home Affairs has urged affected couples to start the process as soon as possible rather than leaving it until the final days.
The department warned that waiting until the deadline could result in longer queues and unnecessary delays as more people rush to register.
Further information about the requirements and registration process is available from Home Affairs offices around the country.
The department is also calling on traditional leaders, community leaders and civil society organisations to help spread the word, particularly among couples who may not be aware that they still need to register their marriage.
What is a customary marriage and why is registration important?
A customary marriage is a marriage entered into according to the customs and traditions of a couple’s community, rather than only through a civil ceremony. In South Africa, customary marriages are legally recognised under the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act.
These marriages may involve traditional practices and negotiations between families, such as lobola, although the specific customs can differ between communities. A customary marriage can be monogamous or polygamous, provided the legal requirements are met.
Importantly, a customary marriage does not become invalid simply because it was not registered with Home Affairs. However, registration provides official proof of the marriage and helps protect the legal rights of both spouses, particularly when it comes to issues such as property, inheritance and other legal matters.
The current special registration period gives couples whose customary marriages were not registered within the required timeframe an opportunity to get their marital status officially recorded with Home Affairs.
Home Affairs is therefore encouraging anyone who qualifies for the special registration process to make use of the opportunity before it closes.
The deadline is 31 August 2026.