Latest news with #MarriageBill
Eyewitness News
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Marriage Bill hearings: Kimberley religious leaders oppose same-sex unions
CAPE TOWN - Strong opposition has been expressed against the Marriage Bill in Kimberley on Monday, where several religious leaders and scholars have, in particular, taken issue with the inclusion of same-sex unions. During Parliament's public hearings, several representatives of the Christian political party, Hope4SA, accused MPs of wanting to impose secular views on the country. They say marriage officers can not be punished for refusing to conduct same-sex unions when it goes against their religious beliefs. The Marriage Bill aims to regularise all marriages under a single law irrespective of religion, sexual orientation or cultural beliefs. It would do away with the Civil Union Act, which for almost twenty years has legalised same-sex unions in South Africa. ALSO READ: New bill outlawing minors from getting married under public scrutiny in Mthatha But Hope4SA's pastor Andre Strauss contended the Kimberley community remains largely opposed to such marriages. "If the same-sex marriage is countered with real marriage, it will weaponise sin promotion and persecution. If this bill gets passed, state marriage officers can lose their jobs and wedding venue owners can be sued if they refuse because of their Christian religion." The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP)'s Zeilede Kgomongoe said the bill undermines the traditional definition of marriage, and it does not represent the values of many South Africans. "We will not stand idly by while our rights to freedom of religion and consigns are trampled upon. The ACDP believes the traditional family unit with a mum and a dad is essential to the well-being of our society." The hearings continue.
Eyewitness News
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Some members of the Kimberley community want Parly to raise legal age of marriage above 18
CAPE TOWN - Several members of the Kimberley community want Parliament to raise the legal marriage age above 18 years. 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.
Zawya
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
South Africa: Thabo Mofutsane District Residents Suggest Vetting of Marriages to Foreign Nationals in Line with Global Best Practices
The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs was urged by Thabo Mofutsanyana District residents yesterday at Bethlehem where it conducted public hearings on Marriage Bill, to ensure that the Bill has strong vetting procedures to protect the population register against fraudulent marriages, enabling access to foreign nationals through marriage. The committee successfully hosted three public hearings in the Free State where the Bill enjoyed support of the majority of the people who participated in the public hearings. Although the majority supported the Bill, they also raised an alarm at the increasing rate of marriages of convenience. They argued that the trend exposes the population register to fraudulent entry, and also places participants in difficulty, especially in cases where they want to dissolve the marriage. The committee acknowledged the persistence of the challenge and committed to engaging the department to do a full-scale analysis of these marriages to ensure that officials who participate in this fraudulent process are investigated. Also, some participants urged the committee to ensure that provisions regulating marriages to foreign nations are in line with international standards by adopting effective practices elsewhere in the world. They told the committee that the application of international best practices and constant monitoring of these marriages will be an effective deterrent to the rise of convenience marriages. Some participants argued for the insertion of a section in the Bill that codifies sanctions and penalties to explicitly include harsher penalties for any South African who participates in such marriages. Meanwhile, there was broad agreement on the intention of the Bill to increase the age of consent for parties who intend to get married from the current 16 to 18, but many argued that the provision does not go far enough. Participants argued that 18 years remains too young, and that the committee consider increasing it to 21 years to ensure that participants are mature enough before entering into marriage. Marriage officers welcomed the expansion of those who can be designated as marriage officers, but cautioned the department to ensure that they are trained. They highlighted their concern that while the Bill protects them from solemnising marriages that go against their belief system, they also expressed a fear of reprisal if they refused to solemnise those marriages. Also, they called for the Bill to be explicit on the process to be followed when there is an objection to a marriage. On the same sex marriage, like in other public hearings that took place at other parts of the country, participants at Bethlehem differed on the issue of same sex marriages. Representatives from faith-based organisations underscored that same sex marriages go against their religious beliefs and teachings. Those who support same sex marriages, including representatives from traditional leadership organisations, argued that the South African Constitution was clear on the prohibition of discrimination against sexual orientation and that people's rights ought to be protected. At the end of the hearings, the Chairperson of the committee, Mr Mosa Chabane, thanked the participants and commended them for their inputs, which he described as invaluable. He said all their inputs will be taken into consideration when the committee deliberates on the Bill at Parliament. The committee will, from Monday, 4 August, conduct public hearings on the Bill in the Northern Cape. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
IOL News
27-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Communities call for stricter measures for marriages between locals and foreign nationals
Residents of Greater Lejweleputswa District Municipality called for stricter measures to ascertain the authenticity of marriages between foreign nationals and South Africans. Image: Emma Bauso/pexels At the recent public hearings on the Marriage Bill held at the Toronto Recreation Centre in Welkom, residents of the Greater Lejweleputswa District Municipality voiced their concerns over the rise of marriages of convenience between foreign nationals and South Africans. This was the second of three public hearings in the Free State, where community members presented a robust call for stricter measures to verify the authenticity of marriages, fearing that fraudulent entries could compromise the integrity of the national register. Participants echoed a collective apprehension regarding the troubling trend of marriages that, they argued, are not motivated by genuine intentions. "It is essential that the Bill outlines a clear process to distinguish authentic unions from those undermined by nefarious motives," said one attendee. The committee has previously heard similar concerns in other provinces and has urged the Department of Home Affairs to take immediate action to investigate these claims comprehensively. In addition to concerns over fraudulent marriages, the hearings have also revealed a variety of differing opinions regarding the alignment of the Marriage Bill with the South African Constitution. Some participants expressed that integrating different marriage laws into a single statute may infringe upon the constitutional right to choose. When it came to polygamous marriages, the views proved equally divided. Advocates for polygamy highlighted its historical significance within African communities, asserting that formal recognition within the legal framework could provide much-needed certainty. Conversely, opponents raised concerns over sustainability and potential conflicts, particularly regarding property rights, and called for a ban on such arrangements. The discussion also ventured into the contentious issue of same-sex marriages, with representatives from various faith-based organisations opposing the recognition of these unions based on religious teachings. However, proponents of same-sex marriage adamantly argued for the constitutional rights of all citizens to love and marry whomever they choose. The committee expressed disappointment over instances of perceived discrimination against same-sex couples, reiterating the importance of protecting the Constitutional rights of every South African. Another area of debate focused on the legal age of consent, with some participants supporting the established threshold of 18 years, while others contended that younger individuals should complete their educational pathways before entering marriage. Marriage officers also raised a significant concern about potential repercussions they might face should they refuse to solemnise marriages that conflict with their personal beliefs. Many called for clearly defined protections for these officers, as well as a comprehensive rollout plan for the training of new marriage officers in alignment with the provisions of the Bill. With the final hearings on the Marriage Bill set to take place today in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality, the committee has urged residents to attend and share their insights concerning this pivotal legislation. IOL
IOL News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
The Marriage Bill: South Africans call for change in age of consent and recognition of Muslim marriages
Most of the citizens welcomed the Bill's objectives to consolidate all the existing marriage laws into one legislation and recognise Muslim marriages which were previously excluded. Image: Sigciniwe The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has wrapped up its North West leg of public hearings regarding the Marriage Bill. This marks the fifth province in a national consultation initiative, following sessions in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and Mpumalanga, aimed at gathering widespread input on the pivotal draft legislation. The committee convened at the Vryburg Banquet Hall in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality. The atmosphere was charged with enthusiasm, as members of the public, political parties, religious representatives, non-governmental organisations, and members of the LGBTQI+ community came together to express their views. The overall sentiment among attendees leaned towards support for the Bill, particularly its intention to consolidate existing marriage laws into a unified framework, as well as its aim to recognise Muslim marriages that had previously been overlooked in legislation. Many citizens voiced their concerns, particularly regarding the proposed age of consent set at 18 for marriage. A common thread in today's discussions suggested this age be raised to 21, with attendees arguing that young adults at 18 are often still completing their education and should not be burdened with the responsibilities of marriage. Additionally, there were passionate calls from the audience for stricter penalties, including severe prison sentences for those facilitating underage marriages and for parents who agree to marry off their children below the legal age. Concerns were raised that poverty was a significant factor pushing families into early marriages. Religious sentiments also featured prominently during the hearings, with many leaders opposing clauses related to same-sex marriage. These objections were often based on biblical scripture and a belief that same-sex marriages threaten procreation and traditional family structures. However, members of the community urged caution against allowing religious beliefs to limit others' rights to love and marry freely. Proposals for amendments to the Bill were abundant, with some suggesting provisions to protect cohabiting couples, commonly known as 'vat en sit'. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Others recalled discussions around polygamous marriages, advocating that husbands must seek the consent of their first wives prior to marrying again—a point noted as already addressed in the draft Bill. Chairperson, Mosa Chabane thanked all participants for their contributions, noting the immense value of public input in shaping the future of marriage legislation in South Africa. 'We thank the public, religious community, political parties, NGOs, and everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We welcome all your valuable inputs,' she stated. IOL
