DEVELOPING NEWS:
Polyandry is defined by Wikipedia as “a form of polygamy in which a woman takes two or more husbands at the same time”. This has a chance to become lawful in South Africa, and some are not happy with this development.
Polygamy which is the reverse case where men are lawfully permitted to marry more than one wife is already lawful in the country. The proposal to also allow the same right for women was included in a green paper presented by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs. They say they want to make marriage more inclusive.
The option is just one of several in a wide-ranging document, but it has caused intense debate in South Africa.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
South Africa is historically a conservative society. However, effect of civilization is having its tow in every aspect of the country and its people.
“South Africa inherited a marriage regime that was based on the Calvinist Christian and Western traditions,” as noted in the green paper.
It however also adds that the current marriage laws are “not informed by an overarching policy that is based on constitutional values and the understanding of modern society dynamics.”
BASIC FACTS
- The current marriage laws in South Africa allows the marriage of minors.
- The current laws also does not account for couples who change their sex and want to remain married without going through a divorce. These are considered as flaws in the current marriage laws by the green paper proposal.
- The proposal is seen as human right issue by activists who have “submitted that equality demands that polyandry be legally recognized as a form of marriage.”
- The officials of the South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs have also made a case for “gender neutral” marriage scheme through the green paper.
- The case has been made that South Africa could do away with categorizing marriages along lines of race, sexual orientation, religion and culture,”
- Therefore, due to the gender-neutral element, their submission is that owing to the option which would apply to women as well as men if made law would therefore permit polyandry alongside polygamy.
- This whole idea has been opposed by the conservatives and the countries religious leaders who think that polyandry is a borrowed culture and not African.
- The South African government ended consultations on the paper on the 30th of June.
NOTABLE QUOTE
“That child is going to belong to which family?”… More than that, we are spiritual people…Our spirits, our creator, has made sure that we are created in this fashion.” Says Musa Mseleku, a reality TV star who has four wives. He suggests that polyandry would throw the paternity of the children into question.
WHAT WE ARE WATCHING
We are watching to see the outcome of consultation by the South African government which should have ended on the 30th of June. We are also monitoring the opposition from the countries conservatives and religious leaders.
We shall keep our readers posted.
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