People who are married in customary marriage, have until the end of this month (December 31), to have it legally registered.

Ms Mashudu Munzhelele, a magistrate in Polokwane Magistrate’s Court, specializing in civil claims, said they are advising all couples who were married in a traditional way before 1995, to visit their nearest Home Affairs offices as they have to have their marriage registered before the end of the month.

“Couples who want their customary marriages to be registered, must visit the Home Affairs with a letter that confirm that they were married in a traditional way, where they will get certificates to confirms their union. “The letter will be confirming that a certain amount have been paid as lobola. The letter must be be signed by people who witnessed that process. If that letter is not available, the couple can get a letter from their traditional leader, confirming their marriage.

“If there is no confirming letter, the presence of members of the family can also help to get that marriage registered where after they will get a certificate,” said Munzhelele.

Munzhelele added that the process of registering customary marriages started in 1995, after parliament passed a bill that recognizes customary marriage to be recognized by the law, in order to accommodate couples who were married from 1995 backwards.

She said it would be difficult for couples who married before 1995 in traditional way to have their marriages registered after the end of this month.

Couples who got married after 1995 did not have problem, as they were able to register their traditional marriage and get certificates.

Munzhelele said the deadline was extended from the last day of November last year to end of this month after it was established that many of the couples, especially in rural areas, were still to register their marriages.

She said the registration of customary marriage will help both parties to be recognized as married couples like in other marriages that were done through the magistrates.

“Without a certificate, couples will find it difficult to claim assets and properties of their spouses as their marriage would not be recognized.

“Without a certificate, many couples are being exploited by their in-laws who refuse them to claim anything that is left by their departed partners and this law is trying to close that gap,” said Muznhelele.