Muslim marriage officers are now being treated on the same basis as other religious marriage officers after the Department of Home Affairs issued a new directive on 19 March 2026, Cape {town} Etc reports.
This ends the requirement for Muslim religious leaders to reapply for certification every five years and ensures parity with other faiths.
The department said the previous five-year limit had been a temporary measure while new marriage legislation was being developed, but that its continued use had become ‘even more unjustifiable’.
Most Muslims in the Western Cape live in the City of Cape Town, with communities concentrated in areas such as the Bo‑Kaap and the Cape Flats. While Stats SA has not released municipality-level 2022 census data on religion, historical surveys and demographic patterns show that Cape Town is the primary centre of the province’s Muslim population.
Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber said the reform ensures that all marriage officers are treated ‘on equal terms’ and reaffirms a commitment to ‘deliver dignity for all’ members of South Africa’s diverse society.
According to Schreiber’s post, the first certifications under the updated approach were delivered to Sheikh Riad Fataar and Dr Muneer Abduroaf of the Muslim Judicial Council.
The department said it will issue further administrative guidance to stakeholders as it implements the decision.
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Also read:
Home affairs issues first certificates recognising Muslim marriages
Picture: @Leon_Schreib / X
