Only a marriage official may execute a marriage. Marriage officers are automatically appointed by all judges and justices of the peace. Other public servants can be appointed as marriage officers by the Minister of Home Affairs (or an official authorised to act on his or her behalf).
Requirements for a Marriage Officer
A secular humanist officiant (or celebrant) conducts secular humanist ceremonies such as marriages, funerals, child naming, coming of age, and other rites. A wedding is the only one where the officiant must be registered; without registration, a marriage is not considered legal.
The Department of Home Affairs has licenced SASS to designate members as Marriage Officers under the Civil Union Act, therefore providing a secular way for non-religious South Africans to marry.
To become an SASS Marriage Officer, you must be a paying SASS member for at least three months.
An interview, three character references, and passing a 2-hour DHA examination (minimum pass grade of 75%) will be required as part of the MO procedure. SASS provides the study materials.
The procedure for becoming an officiant for the South African Secular Society (SASS) is outlined below.
Make sure you have the following information before applying:
Name, ID number, email, phone numbers, and home address are your personal information.
A barcoded Identity Document or ID card scan
A digital photograph of oneself (JPG format or similar).
Your motivation for wanting to work as an SASS Marriage Officer.
Details about your public speaking experience or how you are improving it (e.g., Toastmasters).
The DHA office where you wish to write your test (use the Office Locator (orange button) on dha.gov.za to find them, then contact them to check they provide the Marriage Officer exam).
An example marriage ceremony of 400-1000 words to deliver in 2-5 minutes. (Try com for word count and clarity.)
A strategy for safeguarding the marriage registry. A snapshot of your safe, lockable filing cabinet, desk, or secure closet with the key in the lock (JPG or equivalent format) would suffice.
In South Africa, how can you request to be designated as a marriage officer through T.I.M?
First and foremost, you must be a T.I.M. member.
Meet all of the conditions outlined above.
Send an email seeking your designation as a marriage officer; you may only do so if you are a member.
