WOMEN are urged to visit their nearest home affairs offices to verify their marital status before it is too late.

The call by the Mpumalanga police follows the arrest of a Nigerian national, Ogomezie Jude, 40, who is fraudulently married to two South African women.

Both women were unaware of their marriage to Jude, until they visited home affairs offices, to verify their status.

Jude stays and operates a cellphone business in eMalahleni.

After receiving the complaints from the two women, organised crime unit members raided his business and found nine identity documents belonging to six South African males and three females.

According to Captain Leonard Hlathi of Mpumalanga's organised crime unit, the man used the documents to marry the owners without their consent, or knowledge "apparently with the intention of obtaining permanent South African citizenship".

Hlathi said follow-up investigations revealed that he was already married to two South African women without their knowledge.

He was also in possession of two decrees of divorce with particulars of the women. The decrees had an official stamp but shared the same reference number and did not appear on the home affairs system.

Hlathi said: "We call upon all women to go and verify their status. Those who find themselves being victims of false marriages should come forward so that we can investigate."

Complainants should call Hlathi on 082462 0804 or Inspector Simon Mtsweni on 0823040054 .

Jude is expected to appear in the eMalahleni magistrate's court today .