PRESS RELEASE
NO EMBARGO
Date: 3 May 2023
Al Jama-ah’s Private Members Bill highly commended by Minister of Home Affairs and Members of Parliament
Al Jama-ah’s party leader Hon Ganief Hendricks was described as a champion by Home Affairs Minister for his Private Members Bill (PMB) on the Registration of Muslim Marriages Bill (RMMB).
Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi’s compliment was raised yesterday, Tuesday 2 May 2023 during a Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs to which Hendricks delivered a presentation on the Registration of Muslim Marriages Bill. Several Members of Parliament commended his presentation and recommended that the PMB be incorporated into government’s Omnibus Bill on Marriages.
Hendricks reminded the Minister and PC Members that the Constitutional Court “came down very hard on Parliament, government, and himself as a Member of Parliament” for failing to recognise Muslim marriages.
“The Registration of Muslim Marriages will give dignity to Muslim wives and not a day longer should Muslim women suffer because of their marriages not being recognised,” says Hendricks. He says AL Jama-ah is prepared to consider the Minister’s proposal to hold back its PMB on condition that the Bill be substantially included in the Omnibus Bil; that the Minister must give an undertaking to peruse the amended Circular as proposed by Al Jama-ah because the Muslim community is not happy that their marriages be registered in terms of the country’s customary marriages.
The PC and Minister agreed to further peruse Hendricks’ PMB and how it could possibly be incorporated into the Omnibus Bill. Hendricks further secured an agreement that the entry of “never married” on death certificates of those in a Nikah marriage, will now be changed to ‘married.’ There will also be no need for a contract on a notarial deed for out of community of property marriages, saving indigent couples lawyers’ fees.
For further media enquiries contact national spokesperson:
Adv Shameemah Salie
Cell: 084 423 0476
or
Ms Nisa Siers: National Marketing and Communications Manager
Cell: 082 613 1917
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