The Department of Home Affairs has raised concerns that South Africa’s marriage laws are being abused by foreign nationals seeking to obtain legal status in the country through so-called “marriages of convenience”.
According to Home Affairs Chief Director Sihle Mthiyane, these marriages are not based on genuine relationships but are instead transactional arrangements designed to help foreign nationals qualify for permanent residence and eventually citizenship. He explained that many foreign nationals enter South Africa legally on visitor visas before arranging marriages with South African citizens, allowing them to access immigration benefits provided under the Marriage Act.
Mthiyane said Home Affairs has identified a growing number of these cases and believes South Africans are often involved in facilitating the arrangements. He added that some marriages are conducted without proper verification, making it easier for fraudulent unions to take place. To address the problem, the department wants marriages involving foreign nationals to be concluded through Home Affairs offices, where officials can verify documents and investigate suspicious applications before they are registered.
The department also pointed to investigations conducted in KwaZulu-Natal, where hundreds of suspected marriages of convenience have been examined. Officials say these investigations form part of broader efforts to curb immigration fraud and strengthen the country’s immigration system. Home Affairs has also stressed that while South Africa continues to protect legitimate refugees and lawful migrants, it intends to crack down on the abuse of immigration laws.
Government says tackling fraudulent marriages will require cooperation between citizens, religious leaders, marriage officers and law enforcement agencies to ensure that South Africa’s immigration system is not exploited through sham unions.