The dreams of couples hoping to tie the knot at the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court this year will have to wait, as the court has announced its wedding bookings for the remainder of 2025 are completely full.
A notice issued by the Office of the Judiciary at the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on 8 October informed the public of the situation.
The official notice states: “Please take note that the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court hereby notify the public that the court marriage bookings for the year 2025 are fully booked.”
The notice from the Ondangwa court follows a similar announcement by the Gobabis Magistrate’s Court earlier this week informing couples who plan to to the knot this year that they are fully booked.
Reacting to the announcement earlier this week, Alliance of Christian Churches in Namibia member Dolly Nangushe said the situation points to a much deeper problem that requires government intervention.
“This is a very concerning issue, because it shows many couples want to get married legally, but are delayed by a lack of capacity at the courts,” she said.
Nangushe suggested pastors be given more rights to conduct legally recognised marriages in churches to help reduce the backlog and make it easier for couples to formalise their unions.
