​Earlier this month, Weekly Bulletin reported that there were more than 16 000 divorces out of 89 338 marriages, according to recent figures provided by Statistics South Africa. 
As a result, the Gauteng Department of Social Development has continued to embark on Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Programmes as an effort to enhance marriages. 

Last Friday, 23 September 2022, more than 50 couples made their way to Serving Faith Church in Rondebult, Germiston to observe and celebrate the National Marriage Week. 
The event was organised by the Department’s Ekurhuleni Regional Office in partnership with Families South Africa (FAMSA), Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, NICRO and private practise social workers. 

Field and Intake Social Work Supervisor, Nomsa Ramoshaba, said that it was important to host this enrichment in Rondebult, as through their intake office they discovered there were many marriage related challenges which resulted in divorces. 

“Many marriages are becoming dysfunctional which causes the high rate of divorces. This later affects children, they become uncontrollable, some end up abusing substances and others no longer attend school.” Hence we saw it appropriate to invite young and older generation of couples, and those who are in a process of marriage to be empowered and enriched,” said Ramoshaba. 

She said, “Marriage Week is celebrated annually under Families Programme to respond to challenges faced by those in marriage and to highlight marriage as an institution that holds families together.” Mathipa further stated that the well-being of families is in the hands of married couples and that children feel safer and more secure when both parents are married.