The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, is scheduled to host a dialogue with religious leaders on the development of a new marriage policy, in Boksburg on 26 September 2019. Invited religious leaders include those designated as marriage officers and those who work in the protection of religious groups.

 

The dialogue will discuss the role of religious leaders in the solemnization and registration of marriages. It will explore key issues on mainstreaming equality, human dignity and non-discrimination in marriage legislation and practice with the view to modernizing South Africa’s marriage policy.

 

The dialogue with religious leaders will be held under the theme: “Equitable recognition of the right of all religions in the marriage law and practice”. Current legislation does not cater for some religious marriages such as the Hindu and the Muslim and certain customary marriages among African communities.

 

This dialogue follows the Minister’s engagement with gender and human rights activists last month. It will be followed by further engagements with traditional leaders, CONTRALESA, government leaders and a colloquium, to listen to further voices.