DHA Marital Status Check Discontinued — What “M + ID to 32551” Used to Do
If your SMS to 32551 shows “Not sent,” or it sends but you’re getting no reply, this isn’t a problem with your phone, your network, or how you typed the message. As of August 2026, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has discontinued this service entirely. This page explains what the service used to do, why your attempt is failing, and exactly what to use instead.
Why Your SMS to 32551 Isn’t Working
If you typed “M” followed by your 13-digit ID number and sent it to 32551, one of two things is happening:
- “Not sent” error — the short code 32551 has been decommissioned, so your network has nowhere valid to route the message
- Message sends, no reply comes back — DHA’s system on the receiving end is no longer processing these requests
Neither is fixable by retrying, switching networks, or reformatting the message. There is no current workaround. The service is gone, not glitching.
What the SMS Service Used to Do
For several years, DHA operated a self-service SMS tool that let anyone check their own recorded marital status without visiting a branch:
- Type the letter M, a space, then your 13-digit South African ID number (example: M 5001010050080)
- Send it to the short code 32551
- DHA’s system would reply with your recorded status: single, married, divorced, or widowed, including the date of marriage where applicable
- The service cost approximately R1 per SMS, charged by your network provider
It was mainly used to confirm DHA had a marriage correctly recorded before applying for a marriage certificate, to check for signs of marriage fraud (a marriage registered against your ID without your knowledge), and to confirm a divorce or a spouse’s death had been updated on the National Population Register (NPR).
What you cannot do: There is no alternate short code, retry method, or workaround that restores this service. It no longer functions under any circumstances, on any network.
What To Do Instead
Option 1 — Visit a Home Affairs branch in person Request a marital status printout directly at any Home Affairs office. This gives you a physical, DHA-issued document rather than a verbal confirmation.
Option 2 — Use a documented verification service If you need a result you can hand to a bank, embassy, or employer as proof, Apostil.co.za provides a documented marital status check that queries the population register and returns a verifiable result.
Official DHA Contact Details
| Channel | Details |
|---|---|
| SMS marital status check (32551) | Discontinued — no longer functional |
| DHA Contact Centre | 0800 60 11 90 (toll-free, Mon–Fri 08:00–16:00) |
| DHA Fraud and Corruption Hotline | 0800 20 14 93 |
| DHA website | dha.gov.za |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my SMS to 32551 say “Not sent”?
The short code has been decommissioned. Your network has no valid route to deliver the message, so it fails before it even reaches Home Affairs
Why am I not getting a reply from 32551?
DHA’s system is no longer processing requests to this number. A missing reply isn’t a delay rather the service isn’t operating on the receiving end at all.
Is the DHA SMS marital status service (32551) still working?
No. As of August 2026, it has been discontinued. Messages sent to 32551 will either fail to send or receive no reply.
When did the service stop working?
The exact discontinuation date has not been publicly announced by DHA. Testing in August 2026 confirmed the service is no longer functional.
I still see websites telling me to SMS 32551. Are they wrong?
Yes, if they present it as a working service. The instruction was accurate historically but is now outdated.
Can I still check my marital status for free?
Yes, by visiting a branch in person. Both remain free.
If I suspect marriage fraud, how do I check now that the SMS is gone?
Contact the DHA Contact Centre on 0800 60 11 90 or report directly to the DHA Fraud and Corruption Hotline on 0800 20 14 93.