Home Affairs

I’m sure almost every South African has a HA story. I’m a marriage officer. Each HA branch seems to have its own rules. People wanting to marry are told by one branch the marriage officer has to go into HA and get a print out of their marital status. Another tells the marriage officer only the couple can get this. A divorce, granted by the High Court, was registered with HA 18 months ago. But the divorce is not registered. A second set of papers was handed in a month ago. Divorce still not registered. I had a copy of the decree of divorce so married the couple. HA tells me I shouldn’t have done that as the person is registered with them as married. Who holds the most power here: the High Court or HA? Im so weary of this government department where we are most often treated with disrespect. Marriage officers provide a service to the public and to HA. Im so reluctant to do any more weddings due to the inefficiency of HA.