The Department of Home Affairs is urging couples who were married in terms of customary law but have not yet registered their marriages to do so before the special registration deadline on Monday, 31 August 2026.

The department says only six days remain for qualifying customary marriages to be registered under the special process, which began on 1 September 2024.

The special registration period allows couples whose customary marriages were not registered within the prescribed period to regularise their marital status.

This includes customary marriages concluded before the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act came into effect in November 2000, as well as those concluded after the legislation came into effect but were not registered within the required timeframe.

In a statement, Home Affairs urged qualifying couples not to delay their applications, warning that doing so could result in unnecessary queues as the deadline approaches.

“Traditional leaders, community leaders and civil society organisations are also encouraged to help raise awareness and ensure that affected couples are informed of the approaching deadline.”

Couples who require more information about the application process or supporting documents have been advised to visit their nearest Home Affairs office.

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