PRESS RELEASE
NO EMBARGO
25 October 2024
AL JAMA-AH says it is ecstatic at the reconfiguration of the Department of Home Affairs Marriage certificate for Muslim marriages:
Al Jama-ah Party commends the Department of Home Affairs for the reconfiguration of the Marriage certificate for Muslims which now states the “Type of Marriage” as ‘Muslim’.
Although it has been a long wait for a Muslim marriage certificate in line with Islamic Shari’ah Law, the party is pleased that it has been done the proper way. Muslim couples can now register their marriages with a valid Nikah certificate with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and the marriage will be registered on the National Population Register and the couples will receive a South African Muslim marriage certificate.
The first such certificate, with an entry of ‘Muslim marriage’ was issued on 15 October 2024 to a couple whose Nikah (Muslim marriage) was performed at Cravenby Estate in the Western Cape.
The registration of Muslim marriages followed Al Jama-ah’s Member of Parliament Hon Ganief Hendricks (now Deputy Minister of Social Development) Private Members Bill for the recognition of Muslim marriages to comply with the Constitutional Court judgement.
The marriages of Muslims have never been recognised in South Africa – despite more than 350 years of Islam in the country – by both by the former apartheid government and the new dispensation. The cost of a marriage certificate is R20 which is normally R75, the entry of the marriage on the National Population Register defaults as a ‘Marriage out of Community of Property’ saves the couple notarise cost of up to R10 000.
However, the party advises couples to consult with members of the ‘Ulema (Religious Leaders) before they decide the type of marriage they wish to register.
The party has set a target of reaching one million Muslims to get a valid South African Muslim marriage certificate.
Attached is a copy of the DHA’s Muslim marriage certificate which couples will receive after registering their Nikah marriage.
For interviews contact:
Ms Sinaz Mtshengo
Cell: 078 512 3186