The Department of Home Affairs has issued the first South African marriage certificates officially recognizing the “marriage type” as “Muslim”.

After changes were made to the ministry’s internal systems, Home Affairs issued the first batch of 33 marriage certificates for Muslim marriages.

“Members of the Islamic religious community have made extraordinary contributions to South Africa’s history for over 350 years,” said Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber.

“Although this comes hundreds of years later than expected, it is a personal honor for me to preside, as Minister, over the granting of marriage certificates recognizing Muslim marriages.

“This is a major step towards strengthening the dignity of this faith community and reflects Home Affairs’ ongoing commitment to ensuring dignity for all our valued customers. It is also an expression of nation-building and a celebration of South Africa’s unity in diversity,” Schreiber said.

He said the Interior Ministry was ready to assist all clients who also wish to have a Muslim marriage officially recognized.

“Additionally, we have enabled our systems to retroactively recognize Muslim marriages. For a fee of R20, clients can request a reprint of their marriage certificate specifying that they wish to change the wording to indicate that it is a Muslim marriage,” the minister said.

In May, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law the Divorce Amendment Bill 1979 to recognize Muslim marriages and protect the interests of Muslim women and children of Muslim marriages in the event of dissolution of marriages.

The amended legislation addressed loopholes in the Divorce Act, which distinguished between persons married under the Marriage Act and persons married according to Muslim rites, particularly women.

The amendments adopted by the president provided for a definition of Muslim marriage in the divorce law; the protection and safeguarding of the interests of dependent children and minors born from a Muslim marriage; the redistribution of property in the event of the dissolution of a Muslim marriage and the loss of the property benefits of a Muslim marriage, according to a press release issued by the presidency at the time.

He said the new legislation was a response to an earlier ruling by the Constitutional Court which recognized the need and importance of protecting Muslim women and children of Muslim marriages, particularly when a Muslim marriage is dissolved.

– SAnews.gov.za