Proposed marriage law will recognise all unions

BOTH conventional and traditional marriages could soon be recognised under one act.

The South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) has called for general information and comment on its discussion paper, which focuses on the possible adoption of a single marriage statute.

Currently, the Marriage Act of 1961 does not regulate the traditional marriages of Hindus and Muslims and some customary marriages.

The Customary Marriages Act of 1998 only recognises marriages under African customary law as valid. It is not legally identical to marriages under the Marriage Act, while the Civil Union Act of 2006 allows for same-sex marriages which are legally equivalent to marriages under the Marriage Act.