Question NW1026 to the Minister of Home Affairs
19 June 2020 - NW1026
Opperman, Ms G to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) At what Covid-19 alert level will religious marriage officers be able to marry people again and (b) how are the marriages to be registered with his department; (2) whether it is possible for weddings to take place in private homes and with a limited number of close relatives present, with agreed social distancing and other preventative health measures strictly observed, as is the case with funerals; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1316E
Reply:
1. (a) At level 3, starting from 1st June 2020, religious marriage officers can solemnise marriages under the existing marriages Act (1961).
(b) All requirements for solemnisation must be complied with. Such marriages solemnised by religious marriage officers must be submitted within three (3) days from solemnisation at an office where such marriage officers resort. Once all the paper work shall have been submitted at the nearest office, Department of Home Affairs (DHA) officials would then register such marriages.
2. DHA’s mandate is limited to registering the marriages; matters relating to wedding officiation falls outside the scope of DHA’s mandates.
END