Home Affairs are considering registration of marriages to be allowed under Level 3 of the national lockdown.

The department is currently dealing with a tremendous backlog in birth registrations which have accumulated during Level 5, according to News24.  They restarted these registrations on May 1.

“The department had an estimated backlog of 81 650 [registrations] at the beginning of Level 4 lockdown,” its acting director-general, Jackie MacKay, told the committee.

“Of the aforementioned backlog, the department registered 46 541 births which represent 57% of the above, estimated backlog.”

MacKay added that 35 109 births are yet to be registered and that demand was high for re-issuing of birth certificates and temporary ID certificates.

Finally, MacKay noted that a growing demand for all services provided by the department has led to a discussion about the identification of areas which are to be relaxed as we move through the levels of the national lockdown.

As a result, Home Affairs proposed that the registration of marriages be allowed during Level 3. According to The Citizen, these registrations, if they should be allowed, will happen through appointments.

While we are still unsure of when lockdown Level 3 will be put in place, Ramaphosa has hinted at the chance of it coming before the end of the month.

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