Wife or family? Who has the burial rights?

This includes determining if the dispute is about whether a valid marriage existed or whether the deceased expressed contrary wishes. Payment of lobolo alone is not necessarily sufficient to establish a valid customary marriage,” she explained. However, cultural practices do not automatically override the legal rights of a surviving spouse,” she said. “A surviving spouse in a valid customary marriage enjoys the same legal recognition and protection as a spouse in a civil marriage. Ensure all the legal requirements for a valid customary marriage have been met.