how to become a marriage officer in south africa?

[EgoSumAbbas]

Sort of a necropost, but oh well.

I'm an ordained minister and I have a certificate of ordination, a letter of good standing, and a certified copy of my ID book. I read that I need to include "certified proof of [my] church's existence". What does that mean?
Also, can I hand in the entire package at a local Home Affairs office, or must it be mailed in?

Thanks for your help.

 

[LazyLion]

Sort of a necropost, but oh well.

I'm an ordained minister and I have a certificate of ordination, a letter of good standing, and a certified copy of my ID book. I read that I need to include "certified proof of [my] church's existence". What does that mean?
Also, can I hand in the entire package at a local Home Affairs office, or must it be mailed in?

Thanks for your help.

You should both mail it and take it in person. I know that sounds weird, but it's just better that way.
You need a letter from the Head of your Church Organisation or Council specifically approving you and requesting that Home Affairs appoint you as a Marriage Officer.
If you are part of a smaller group of Churches or an organisation that is not as well known, then you will need some kind of proof of the existence and purpose of the organisation.
But if it is a well known and well recognised organisation then it is not necessary.

 

[copacetic]

This is why I want to become an officer as well...

 

[LazyLion]

This is why I want to become an officer as well...

Can't see nuffink?

 

[porchrat]

Wow I didn't know Gary was a marriage officer. Awesome.

So can you become a marriage officer without being part of a church?

 

[scotty777]

If you were a divorce lawyer, and a marriage officer, I believe you have all your ducks in a row.

 

[BLIXEMPIE]

marriage officers are NOT allowed to charge for their services.

Ag f*k dit.

 

[LazyLion]

Wow I didn't know Gary was a marriage officer. Awesome.
So can you become a marriage officer without being part of a church?

Thanks
Yes, it is possible, but much harder.
You need to really be a part of some organisation that can show an interest in allowing it's members to be married.
Like the Pagan Society or South Africa, or even the Atheists society.
If you can show a good sized following/membership and good reason why one of the other marriage officers would not suit you, then you can be appointed for your organisation.

Technically speaking the only thing you need to be married in South Africa is...
1) You can't fall within the prohibited degrees of relationship (eg, brother and sister).
2) Over 21 or with parent's consent.
3) two sets of ID photos for each party
4) left thumb prints for each party
5) Your ID books, and two witnesses with ID books to act as signatories.
6) A marriage officer
7) A marriage formula consisting of a) an oath that you know of no reason why you should not be married, and b) a declaration by the marriage officer that you are duly married.
8) if you are widowed you need to provide a death certificate of your deceased spouse
9) if you are divorced you need to provide a copy of the decree of divorce from the High court.
10) if you have customary wives, you need to show proof that those customary marriages have been dissolved in accordance with tribal law.
11) a roof over your head under which to be married.

That's about it. You don't even need a church or a congregation, you don't need rings or vows, you don't need a white dress or a tux, and you don't need to pay the marriage officer if you don't want to.

 

[moosh]

does anyone know how to become a marriage officer in south africa?

what do i need, what does it cost, how long does it take etc?

i think it'll be cool to marry people.

Hey, did you come right? Are you a marriage officer now?
I am getting married soon and we are atheists. And like every other couple in the world, we don't want to get married in home affairs, so we want to get a friend on ours to become a marriage officer too. Let me know if you had any success!
cheers!

 

[LazyLion]

Hey, did you come right? Are you a marriage officer now?
I am getting married soon and we are atheists. And like every other couple in the world, we don't want to get married in home affairs, so we want to get a friend on ours to become a marriage officer too. Let me know if you had any success!
cheers!

Whereabouts are you moosh?

 

[erinj]

Whereabouts are you moosh?

Hi Garyvdh... I'm not moosh but I have found myself in the same boat as moosh! Getting married in Jhb beginning of Dec 2012. Are you still a marriage officiant? Pleeeeease get back to me! Thanks!

 

[Scanworld Stan]

Marriage Officer in South Africa

Hi there, could someone give me hints as to what sort of questions are asked when writing the Home Affairs test to become a Marriage Officer please? got the manual but has so many constitutional acts and dont this thats too relevant? Please assist - thank you

 

[Scanworld Stan]

Marriage Officer in South Africa

Garyvdh - please help

Hi there, could someone give me hints as to what sort of questions are asked when writing the Home Affairs test to become a Marriage Officer please? got the manual but has so many constitutional acts and dont this thats too relevant? Please assist - thank you

 

[mol-d]

Hey Gary,

I don't know what kind of dealings you have had with Home Affairs but my sister and I have had a horrible time trying to get hold of them. In January this year my sister applied to become a Marriage Officer, completed the forms and got the letter from a non-denominational organisation at UCT.

Apparently the study materials should have been sent to her from the Head Office in Pretoria, following which she could have done the test at the local office in Cape Town. She has received nothing and would like to marry my fiancee and I in December this year. We have both called a variety of numbers at the Head Office, the last and apparently correct one being 012 810 63 26. Does anyone have any ideas as time is running short and we are not getting much joy from Home Affairs?

Cheers,

Grant

It's not that hard, the tricky part is getting your organisation to sponsor you (write a letter on your behalf).
If you belong to a group of churches or a denomination, then ask your head of the group to write the letter and address it to Home Affairs.
He will request that Home Affairs appoint you as a Marriage Officer so that they will have someone in their group who can conduct marriages.

Then once they have sent that letter Home Affairs will call you in and give you a copy of the marriage act and their procedures which you have to memorise.
They will schedule a test date and you have to score more than 80% on the test.

Once that is complete they will issue you with a letter of appointment and a book of Register certificates and Marriage certificates.
You can then have a stamp made up with your name and organisation.

Just one thing to note. According to the marriage act, marriage officers are NOT allowed to charge for their services.
So if you are hoping to get this in order to make a living, you can forget about that part!

 

[LazyLion]

Hi Garyvdh... I'm not moosh but I have found myself in the same boat as moosh! Getting married in Jhb beginning of Dec 2012. Are you still a marriage officiant? Pleeeeease get back to me! Thanks!

Hi erinj, I am still here. What date were you looking for in December as I am already booked for the Sat, 1st December and Sun, 9th December.

 

[LazyLion]

Hi there, could someone give me hints as to what sort of questions are asked when writing the Home Affairs test to become a Marriage Officer please? got the manual but has so many constitutional acts and dont this thats too relevant? Please assist - thank you

Howzit, you basically need to know that manual back to front.... including the acts.
The Test is an almost exactly duplication of the manual and you have to write out whole paragraphs from the manual.
You need to get more than 80% to pass.
Best you start memorising the manual!

 

[LazyLion]

Hey Gary,

I don't know what kind of dealings you have had with Home Affairs but my sister and I have had a horrible time trying to get hold of them. In January this year my sister applied to become a Marriage Officer, completed the forms and got the letter from a non-denominational organisation at UCT.

Apparently the study materials should have been sent to her from the Head Office in Pretoria, following which she could have done the test at the local office in Cape Town. She has received nothing and would like to marry my fiancee and I in December this year. We have both called a variety of numbers at the Head Office, the last and apparently correct one being 012 810 63 26. Does anyone have any ideas as time is running short and we are not getting much joy from Home Affairs?

Cheers,

Grant

Hi Grant, all my dealings were through my local Home Affairs office, I didn't have to do much at all from the Head Office.
Go back to your local Home Affairs branch and ask to speak to the Marriage Officer.
Tell him what has happened and ask if he can help you.

At the same time, you should send a letter to the Home Affairs Head Office. Don't call them, you will just be shunted from pillar to post.
They will respond to your letter. Did she receive any kind of confirmation yet, that they have accepted her application?
If not, then you need to send it again. That should be the letter from the head of your organisation requesting that she be appointed as a marriage officer. Then you will get a confirmation letter if she has been accepted or rejected. If she is accepted they will send her the manual and books.
They do not work very fast though, unfortunately. But it's pointless to phone them, they don't work through the phone. They are on Africa Time.

If needs be, I can try and scan my manual and e-mail it to you so that she can at least begin memorising it.
But in the meantime you need to have a back-up plan in place and another marriage officer on standby to do your wedding if she is not yet appointed by that time. Contact a few churches in your area to get the names of some other marriage officers.

 

[PastorCraig]

Thanks Gary, your posts have been very insightful, could you let me have a copy of the manual so that I can get started in learning it.

 

[KirstyCarp]

Hi Gary
Do you know anyone in Cape Town that will marry me for free? Looking for a civil ceremony, but everyone I've contacted charges around R2000.

 

[Bar0n]

does anyone know how to become a marriage officer in south africa?

what do i need, what does it cost, how long does it take etc?

i think it'll be cool to marry people.

It pays better to divorce them than marry them.