Page:Marriage Act 1961 from statute book.djvu/11

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214
Marriage

Act No. 25 of 1961.

Blessing of a marriage.

33. After a marriage has been solemnized by a marriage officer, a minister of religion or a person holding a responsible position in a religious denomination or organization may bless such marriage according to the rites of his religious denomination or organization.


Religious rules and regulations.

34. Nothing in this Act contained shall prevent―

(a)

the making by any religious denomination or organization of such rules or regulations in connection with the religious blessing of marriages as may be in conformity with the religious views of such denomination or organization or the exercise of church discipline in any such case; or

(b)

the acceptance by any person of any fee charged by such religious denomination or organization for the blessing of any marriage,

provided the exercise of such authority is not in conflict with the civil rights and duties of any person.


Penalties for solemnizing marriage contrary to the provisions of this Act.

35. Any marriage officer who knowingly solemnizes a marriage in contravention of the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred rand or, in default of payment, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months.


Penalties for false representations or statements.

36. Any person who makes for any of the purposes of this Act, any false representation or false statement knowing it to be false, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalties prescribed by law for perjury.


Offences committed outside the Union.

37. If any person contravenes any provision of this Act in any country outside the Union the Minister of Justice shall determine which court in the Union shall try such person for the offence committed thereby, and such court shall thereupon be competent so to try such person, and for all purposes incidental to or consequential on the trial of such person, the offence shall be deemed to have been committed within the area of jurisdiction of such court.


Regulations.

38. (1) The Governor-General may make regulations as to―

(a)

the form and content of certificates, notices, affidavits and declarations for the purposes of this Act;

(b)

the fees payable for any certifcate issued or any other act performed in terms of this Act,

and, generally, as to any matter which by this Act is required or permitted to be prescribed or which he considers it necessary or expedient to prescribe in order that the purposes of this Act may be achieved or that the provisions of this Act may be effectively administered.

(2) Such regulations may prescribe penalties for a contravention thereof, not exceeding, in the case of a fine, fifty rand or, in the case of imprisonment, a period of three months.