Some members of the Kimberley community want Parly to raise legal age of marriage above 18
They say that many eighteen-year-olds have barely completed their schooling and can't take on the responsibility of married life.
Parliament's home affairs committee is currently holding public hearings on the Marriage Bill in the Northern Cape, where on Monday, a strong religious sentiment was expressed against same-sex marriage, despite it being legal for almost two decades.
Among those in support of a new Marriage Bill that would encompass all marriages and do away with three existing laws, is traditional leader, Kgosi Jantjie.
But he wants to see polygamous and customary marriages protected under the new law.
Jantjie said that marriages under the age of 18, even with parental consent, should be outlawed.
"We are in agreement that whoever gets married must be 18 years or above, and no one under the age of 18 should be allowed to get into a marriage."
ActionSA's Northern Cape leader, Andrew Louw, however, thinks the legal age should be raised given the high matric dropout rate in the province.
"This is something that we cannot support that the minimum age should be 18, however, we are proposing that the minimum age should instead be 21."
The hearings will continue in Kuruman on Tuesday.
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