CRITICS say it flies in the face of African custom and will tear apart our social fabric, absolving men of their family responsibilities and leading to a generation of kids not knowing their fathers.
Those in favour say it’s a big step for gender equality in South Africa and will advance economic and cultural freedoms for women.
The “it” in question are the proposed changes to the Marriage Act, which aims to allow everyone in the country to have recognised legal marriages.
Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Rastafarian marriages are still not recognised by South African law and the department of home affairs recently published a 67-page policy document to address discrimination in the Marriage Act.
But there’s one proposed change in the extensive green paper that’s really getting people hot under the collar: making polyandry legal.
If it’s signed into law, it means women will be allowed to have more than one husband. Only polygamy is currently legalised in SA and many men have more than one wife – and as far as those opposed to the new changes are concerned, that’s the way it should stay.
“Women will be robbed in the marriage and divorces will be high,” says Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, leader of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP).
Ganief Hendricks, leader of the Al Jama- ah party, which aims to uphold Muslim interests, says polyandrous marriages will confuse children.
“You can imagine when a child is born, more DNA tests will be needed to discover who the father is. The problem is only going to get worse.”
ãã®èšäºã¯ YOU South Africa ã® 10 June 2021 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã8,500 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ YOU South Africa ã® 10 June 2021 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã8,500 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL!
Kourtney Kardashian and other celebs are honouring the glory of new moms' postpartum bodies
LEON'S ORDEAL IS NO JOKE
Pain has dominated entertainer Leon Schuster's life after a serious back injury landed him in bed. But despite being depressed he remains hopeful he will recover so he can get back to work
'BREAK THE SILENCE'
That's the message of the Scottish comedian who turned his experience of stalking and sexual abuse into a hit Netflix show
A PLACE OF HOPE AND HEALING
Damaged people and abused dogs find a safe haven and a chance to start again at this farm in the Cape Winelands
FROM SPERM DONOR TO DAD OF 37
Peter Ellenstein's life took an unexpected turn when a message from a daughter he never knew he had led to him meeting dozens of his children and exploring what it means to be a father without ever having raised them
GRATEFUL FOR EVERY BREATH
A double lung transplant has given this chef a second chance at life - and he'll never forget the young man who made it possible
THE GAMES ARE GO!
Preparations are well under way in the City of Lights for the world's greatest sporting spectacle
MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT
We break down what the new rules are and what to expect for the seventh national elections later this month
TOM'S A TOP GIFTER
He's known to go ALL OUT for his movies and stunts, so it's no surprise TOM CRUISE also PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS for his friends when it comes to GIFTS
TAMING THE BEAST
Recognising and managing your anger can make for a happier and healthier you