Civil marriages Civil unions Customary

marriages

Legislation Concluded in terms Concluded in terms Concluded in terms

of the Marriage Act of the Civil Union of customary law.
25 of 1961 Act 17 of 2006 Recognition of
Customary
Marriages Act 120
of 1998.

Consent Both parents or the Restricted to Both spouses must

guardian of the persons older than be over the age of
minor must 18 years. A minor puberty to conclude
consent to the civil cannot enter into a a customary
marriage of a civil union – not marriage. Both
minor. even with the parties must
Girls between the assistance of his or consent to enter
ages of 12 and 15, her parents or into a customary
and boys between guardian. marriage. If a
the ages of 14 and spouse is a minor
18 cannot enter his or her parents
into a civil marriage or guardian must
without the written consent to the
consent of the marriage. A minor
Minister of Home needs the written
Affairs as well as consent of the
the consent of Minister of Home
his/her parent(s) or Affairs or a duly
guardian. Where authorised officer in
consent from the the public service,
Minister of Home as well as parental
Affairs was consent, to enter
required, but not into a customary
obtained, the marriage.
minor’s marriage
will be null and
void.

Minority status A minor can A minor cannot A minor can

acquire majority acquire majority acquire majority
status by entering status by entering status by entering
into a civil into a civil union. into a customary
marriage. marriage.

Nature Monogamous Monogamous Allows polygyny

Parties Couples of the • Same sex Couples of the
opposite sex couples opposite sex.

• Couples of
the opposite
sex

AFRIKAANS

Siviele huwelik Siviele Gebruiklike

verbintenis huwelik

Wetgewing Gesluit ingevolge Gesluit ingevolge Gesluit ingevolge

die Huwelikswet 25 die Civil Union Act die wet op
van 1961 17 van 2006 Erkenning van
Gebruiklike
Huwelike 120 van
1998

Toestemming Beide ouers of die Beperk tot persone Beide partye moet
wettige voog moet ouer as 18 jaar. ʼn oor
toestem tot die Minderjarige kan puberteitsouderdom
siviele huwelik van wees om ʼn
nie ʼn siviele
ʼn minderjarige. gebruiklike huwelik
verbintenis sluit nie te sluit. Beide
Meisies tussen die – selfs nie met die partye moet
ouderdomme van bystand van sy of toestemming gee
12 en 15, en seuns haar ouers of voog om ʼn gebruiklike
tussen die huwelik te sluit.
nie.
ouderdomme van Indien ʼn party
14 en 18, het minderjarig is, moet
benewens ouerlike sy of haar ouers of
toestemming of voog toestemming
toestemming van gee dat hulle in die
sy of haar voog , huwelik mag tree. ʼn
ook die Minderjarige het,
toestemming van benewens ouerlike
skriftelike toestemming, ook
toestemming van die skriftelike
die Minister van toestemming van
Binnelandse Sake
 nodig om ʼn siviele die Minister van
huwelik te sluit. In Binnelandse Sake,
ʼn geval waar die of ʼn amptenaar in
toestemming van die staatsdiens wat
die Minister van behoorlik daartoe
Binnelandse Sake gemagtig is, nodig
vereis was, maar om ʼn siviele
nie verkry is nie, huwelik te sluit.
sal die
minderjarige se
huwelik sal nietig
wees.

Status van ʼn Minderjarige kan ʼn Minderjarige kan ʼn Minderjarige kan

minderjarige die status van ʼn nie die status van ʼn die status van ʼn
meerderjarige meerderjarige kry meerderjarige kry
verkry deur ʼn deur ʼn siviele deur ʼn gebruiklike
siviele huwelik te verbintenis te sluit huwelik te sluit.
sluit. nie.

Aard Monogaam Monogaam Laat poliginie toe.