(c) that the guardian of the woman consents to the marriage or that a magistrate has authorized the solemnization of the marriage in terms of section five; and (d) that no lawful impediment exists to the proposed marriage; he shall solemnize the marriage by declaring the parties to be man and wife and such marriage shall be a valid marriage contracted according to customary law. (2) If a customary marriage officer declines to solemnize a marriage referred to in subsection (2) of section three because he is not satisfied in terms of subsection (1), he shall declare such marriage void. 8 Marriage register (1) Immediately after the solemnization of a marriage, an entry thereof shall be made in ink in a marriage register to be kept for that purpose by the customary marriage officer in the form or to the effect of the specimen set forth in the Schedule, and every such entry shall be signed by the customary marriage officer. (2) Before the parties depart, there shall then and there be made on a separate piece of paper a duplicate original register of the entry referred to in subsection (1) in which the same matter shall be entered and signed by the customary marriage officer in manner or to the effect of the specimen set forth in the Schedule, and the customary marriage officer shall deliver such duplicate original register to the woman. (3) Every extract from a marriage register which purports to be certified as a true copy therefrom by the customary marriage officer who for the time being has the custody of the marriage register and every duplicate original register shall respectively be good evidence of the facts therein recorded in and before all courts and in criminal and civil proceedings therein and shall be admissible upon its mere production by any person. 9 Search of marriage register Any person may at all reasonable times during office hours search the marriage register in the presence of the person for the time being having the custody thereof and may, upon payment of a fee of one dollar, have a true copy of any entry therein certified under the hand of the customary marriage officer for the time being having the custody of such marriage register: Provided that no fee shall be payable by either party to a marriage for a true copy of an entry relating to his marriage. 10 Offences in relation to marriage register (1) If any person unlawfully— (a) erases or obliterates any entry in a marriage register or duplicate original register; or (b) destroys a marriage register; he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level four or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment. [Subsection amended by section 4 of Act 22 of 2001.] (2) If any person— (a) unlawfully and wilfully forges or alters or falsely makes an entry in a marriage register or duplicate original register or any certified copy from a marriage register; or (b) knowingly and wilfully delivers, offers, alters or puts off any such forged, false or altered copy; he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level four or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment. [Subsection amended by section 4 of Act 22 of 2001.] 11 Pledging of girls and women in marriage prohibited (1) Any agreement in which a person, whether for consideration or otherwise, pledges or promises a girl or woman in marriage to a man shall be of no effect. (2) …. [Subsection repealed by section 282 of Act 23 of 2004] 12 Certificates as to consent and marriage consideration in marriages under Marriage Act (1) Whenever Africans desire their marriage to be solemnized in terms of the Marriage Act, such Africans shall appear before a magistrate for the purpose of obtaining a certificate stating that there is no bar to such marriage by reason of lack of consent of the parents or guardian of the woman. (2) No magistrate shall issue a certificate referred to in subsection (1) until he has satisfied himself by means of such inquiry as he may think fit that there is no bar to the marriage in terms of subsection (1). (3) A marriage between Africans which is solemnized in terms of the Marriage Act shall be invalid unless there was produced to the minister of religion or other marriage officer the certificate required in terms of subsection (1). (4) On application by the parties to a marriage between Africans which is or is to be solemnized in terms of the Marriage Act, a magistrate for the province in which the husband or intended husband resides shall furnish to the parties a certificate stating— (a) the marriage consideration paid and its value; and