South Africa Considers New Marriage Law That Will Allow Their Women To Marry More Than One Man

South Africa Considers New Marriage Law That Will Allow Their Women To Marry More Than One Man

South African’s Department of Home Affairs in a recent policy document, has proposed a new law that will give women right to marry more than one husband, just the same way polygamous men are allowed by the law to get married to many wives.

Inside the 67-pages policy document as well called Green Papper on Marriages, it said that the current marriage act does not promote equality.

It also stated that the current marriage legislation is discriminatory as it doesn’t recognise jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Rastafarian marriage ls. The document also called for polyandry to be legally recognised as a form of marriage in the society.

The policy document further proposed three new marriage regimes to bring equality in marriage laws.

 

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The policy read below;

“This would accommodate both polygyny and polyandry

Therefore all marriages, whether monogamous or polygamous, could be concluded regardless of the sex or sexual orientation of the person.”

South Africa’s Ministry of Home Affairs appears to favour the option for a gender-neutral marriage regime that allows both polyandry and polygyny. The Ministry wrote;

“The political appetite of the country to confront the challenges of the current marriage statute will be tested through these options. However, if Section 9 of the Constitution was to be implemented in its entirety, option 3 will tick all the boxes.”

“Ironically, stakeholders who believed in the practice of polygamy … were opposed to the practice of polyandry.

This is the beginning of a crucial public discourse that will re-define the concept of marriage in South Africa.

“The process will unearth issues that may make some of us uncomfortable, but will encourage dialogue within the South African and international communities.”

South African citizens have until the end of June 2021 to comment on the department’s proposals.