Leribe, May 08 — The District Administrator (DA) for Leribe, Mr. Letsema Khalanyane, together with Heads of Departments, has raised concern over delays in the registration of customary marriages caused by a system malfunction that has halted the service since January 2026.

The issue was discussed during the Heads of Departments meeting held at the District Administration offices in Hlotse on Wednesday.

Mr. Khalanyane said although he had been informed that the interruption was due to technical problems, it was concerning that the customary marriage registration system had remained non-functional for such a long period while other services continued to operate normally.

He noted that the delay continues to inconvenience many Basotho, some of whom spend more than M300.00 on transport to travel to Hlotse for registration services.

“This means some people cannot afford repeated trips to and from Hlotse,” he said.

Mr. Khalanyane further stated that travelling to other districts such as Butha-Buthe and Berea for the same service also places an additional financial burden on applicants, with no certainty that they will be assisted upon arrival.

He added that many applicants frequently visit his office seeking answers regarding the matter.

In conclusion, Mr. Khalanyane said the situation negatively affects service delivery in the district and delays development.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Hlotse, Ms. Limpho Mafa confirmed that customary marriage registration services had been suspended since January due to system-related problems.

She said the disruption has affected operations significantly, with about 500 applications still pending.

Ms. Mafa said applicants are currently being advised to seek registration services in Berea or Butha-Buthe districts, as there is still no confirmed date for the restoration or upgrading of the system.

She appealed for the intervention of the District Administrator, saying local offices have also been awaiting assistance on the matter.

Heads of Departments agreed that the issue requires urgent attention, noting that the problem has persisted for too long.

They also emphasised the importance of having an alternative system in place to ensure continuity of services whenever technical failures occur, particularly since the problem currently affects only Leribe district.

The meeting resolved that the District Administrator should urgently engage relevant authorities to ensure that the approximately 500 pending applicants receive assistance as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that there is an ongoing national campaign encouraging the registration of customary marriages ahead of the August 31, 2026 deadline set by the Ministry of Home Affairs.