Last Chance for Couples: Register Your Customary Marriage by End of August

South Africa’s customary-marriage clock is ticking: Why couples must act now

With the fast-approaching cutoff of 31 August 2026, spouses have been urged to formalise their marriages at the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to safeguard their legal rights. Under the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act (RCMA), which came into force on 15 November 2000, customary marriages enjoy the same legal recognition and protection as civil unions, but registration remains the only foolproof protection for families. For South African…

Last chance for couples: Register your customary marriage by end of August

Time is running out! Couples with unregistered customary marriages must act now—only six days remain to secure your marital recognition before the August 31, 2026, deadline.

Home affairs issues final warning as customary marriage registration closes 31 August

Home Affairs has gone forward and issued a final reminder to couples in unregistered customary marriages to register before the special 31 August 2026 deadline.

Customary marriage registration deadline fast approaching

Customary marriage registration deadline fast approaching bombeleni_temp Tue, 08/25/2026 - 13:00 JOHANNESBURG - Couples married in terms of customary law who have not yet registered their marriages have until 31 August to do so.Under the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, customary marriages have the same legal recognition and protection as civil marriages. Couples whose marriages were concluded before 2000, as well as those married after 2…