South Africans have expressed concern over a spike in fraudulent marriages and urged lawmakers to tighten vetting procedures to protect the national population register.
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs said on Monday that fake marriages dominated public hearings on South Africa’s proposed Marriage Bill that it held in Free State province’s Bethlehem.
During hearings, participants warned that marriages of convenience, often involving foreign nationals seeking legal status, are undermining the integrity of the civil registry and leaving citizens trapped in legally binding unions they struggle to dissolve.
The committee acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and pledged to engage the Department of Home Affairs in conducting a full-scale analysis of fraudulent marriages.
Participants called for the insertion of a section in the Bill that penalises any South Africans who knowingly participate in such marriages.
South Africa has long grappled with fake marriages where individuals are unknowingly registered as married or enter into sham unions for immigration benefits.
In 2023, the Department of Home Affairs reported over 2,000 cases of fraudulent marriages, prompting calls for systemic reform and stronger biometric safeguards.
While the majority supported the Bill’s intent to unify South Africa’s fragmented marriage laws, some argued that the proposed minimum age of marriage, set to rise from 16 to 18, should be further increased to 21, citing concerns over maturity and educational completion.
Debate also surfaced around same-sex marriages, with faith-based groups opposing their recognition, while traditional leaders and civil society representatives defended constitutional protections against discrimination.
JN/APA