Elsie Mgwenya, a resident of Marite in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, has found herself entangled in a distressing situation.
She claims to be married to a foreign national, Mr. Muhammad, whom she has never met. What makes matters worse is that this marriage was registered without her consent by the Department of Home Affairs.
Mgwenya first became aware of the issue in 2017 when she attempted to open a bank account at a First National Bank branch in Hazyview.
To her astonishment, the bank employee informed her that she was married to a Mr. Muhammad based in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. This revelation left her shocked and confused, as she had no knowledge of this marriage.
Another instance where the problem surfaced was approximately six years ago when Mgwenya wanted to register her newborn baby for a birth certificate. She was told by a Home Affairs official that her child’s surname should be Muhammad.
However, she refused to comply with this request, as it made no sense to her. She couldn’t understand how her identity document became associated with the surname of an unknown man.
Despite her attempts to address the issue, Mgwenya has received no assistance from the Department of Home Affairs. When she approached them for help, she was met with evasive responses and no concrete solutions. The lack of support from the department has left her feeling helpless and frustrated.
One of Mgwenya’s biggest concerns is how this situation might affect her relationship with her long-term partner. She worries that he may mistakenly believe that she is involved in a fraudulent marriage for financial gain. The association with such activities could tarnish her reputation and strain her relationship.
Mgwenya has taken matters into her own hands and reported the issue to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) provincial office. She hopes that the commission will be able to intervene and compel the Department of Home Affairs to annul the illegal marriage. Additionally, she urges them to investigate how the marriage was registered without her presence or consent and identify the marriage officer and witnesses involved.
Mgwenya’s case is not an isolated incident. The SAHRC has been made aware of numerous similar complaints regarding fraudulent marriages in Mpumalanga. These cases not only violate the rights of women like Mgwenya but also have a detrimental impact on their children’s access to socio-economic rights, such as government grants.
Eric Mokonyama, the provincial manager of the SAHRC, calls upon the Department of Home Affairs to swiftly resolve these cases and hold accountable any officials implicated in facilitating these fraudulent marriages. It is essential to protect the rights and well-being of women and their children affected by this issue.
David Hlabane, the media manager for the Department of Home Affairs, has requested specific details regarding Mgwenya’s complaint to investigate the matter further. He emphasizes the department’s commitment to addressing these concerns and urges individuals to provide the necessary information for prompt action.
