News / Africa
South Africa changes foreign marriage rules to curb fraud
22 Apr 2013 at 07:54hrs | Views
The South African home affairs department says new rules for foreign couples who want to wed in South Africa are intended to curb the high number of fraudulent marriages, the Cape Times reported on Monday.
In the five years until January 2012, there were about 8 883 fraudulent marriages, or marriages of convenience, said Lunga Ngqengelele, spokesperson for Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor.
Therefore, it was necessary for a South African-foreigner couple to be interviewed by immigration officer, who would ask questions such as how long the foreigner had been in the country and whether they had a valid permit.
To date, these requirements had not prevented a couple from getting married, Ngqengelele said.
When two foreigners wished to marry in the country, they had to have valid passports and a permit.
They would then be issued with an abridged marriage certificate, which they would use to register the marriage in their country of origin.
The newspaper recently reported that the department's new rules had left marriage officers and wedding co-ordinators up in arms because they said many foreigners were not prepared to marry here anymore.
They had reportedly called for a meeting with a department to raise their concerns.
In the five years until January 2012, there were about 8 883 fraudulent marriages, or marriages of convenience, said Lunga Ngqengelele, spokesperson for Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor.
Therefore, it was necessary for a South African-foreigner couple to be interviewed by immigration officer, who would ask questions such as how long the foreigner had been in the country and whether they had a valid permit.
To date, these requirements had not prevented a couple from getting married, Ngqengelele said.
When two foreigners wished to marry in the country, they had to have valid passports and a permit.
They would then be issued with an abridged marriage certificate, which they would use to register the marriage in their country of origin.
The newspaper recently reported that the department's new rules had left marriage officers and wedding co-ordinators up in arms because they said many foreigners were not prepared to marry here anymore.
They had reportedly called for a meeting with a department to raise their concerns.
Source - Sapa
