NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 2045
DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 16 August 2013
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 27 of 2013
Mr M S F de Freitas (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:
On what basis are marriages of asylum seekers not performed in South
Africa?
NW2467E
REPLY:
Marriages of asylum seekers and refugees are not performed in the Republic
of South Africa if the asylum seekers and / or refugees are not in
possession of the following:
⢠Proof of identity. If not in possession of such (valid passport), an
affidavit confirming their identity
⢠Valid asylum seeker permit [a permit issued in terms of section 22 of
the Refugees Act, 1998 (Act No 130 of 1998)]
⢠Valid refugee permit (a permit issued in terms of section 24 of the
Refugees Act)
Marriages of asylum seekers and / or refugees are also not performed if:
⢠The asylum seeker or refugee was married in his / her country of
origin and there is no formal proof for the dissolution of the
marriage. If for a
⢠sound reason a person is unable to produce a decree of divorce or if
a person was divorced in a foreign country and cannot obtain a decree
of divorce, an affidavit by the person concerned is required to the
effect that he / she is legally divorced, stating the name of the
court which granted the divorce and the date on which it was granted.
If the asylum seeker or refugee is a widow or widower, the deceased
spouseâs death certificate must be provided. If a death certificate
is not available, the person concerned is required to submit an
affidavit confirming the death of the deceased spouse and stating the
name of the deceased and the date of death.