The government of the Republic of South Africa proposes to legalize polyandry – meaning that more men can be married to the same woman. This is stated by their opublic report on marriage, submitted May 4.
South Africa already has one of the most liberal marriage laws in the world, which allows marriage regardless of orientation, in addition to allowing adoption and surrogacy regardless of orientation. This is ensured in the constitution itself. However, some regions are still struggling with discrimination and even cases of rape as punishment.
The Marriage Act also allows polygamy in the form of polygamy. Former President Jacob Zuma has been married six times and currently has four wives. Some have up to ten. The limitation is that only men can do it. The government proposes to remedy this with a new law, which has created reactions.
– Opposition is about control. African societies are not ready for real equality. We do not know what to do with women we can not control, says Professor Collis Machoko BBC i Johannesburg.
The government concludes that ceasing to categorize marriage by race, orientation, religion and culture, but only by either monogamy or polygamy, would be the most elegant solution in line with the Constitution.
Reality king with four wives: – Think of the children
One of the opponents is the businessman Musa Mseleku, who has four wives and ten children, whom he shows off on his reality show on South African TV.
– This will destroy African culture. Think of the children. How will they know their identity, he rages in the BBC.
He highlights various cultural and practical challenges.
– The woman can not take the role of a man. It’s unheard of. Should the woman now pay dowry? Is the man expected to take her last name? asks Mseleku.
Financier Milton Mbhele is known to have married four women at once. He himself said it was practical and that he saved money. Photo: AP / NTB
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Cultural expert Nomagugu Ngobese told the Sunday World newspaper last Sunday that the proposal would create chaos in black families.
– We warn the government that this policy will lead to irreparable damage to what holds society together and harm black communities, he says.
He believes that developments in South Africa are going in the wrong direction – for example, that the country’s Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that the constitution allows voluntary sex between young people aged 12 to 16.
The leader of the African Christian Democratic Party wonders what will happen if more husbands want their wives to say that night.
– This can lead to confrontations. Men are jealous, he says The Times.
Not all South African women take the proposal seriously either, some joke with “who bothers to take care of more than one man”, writes SAPeople.
– Can provide financial prosperity
Researcher Lize Mills and researcher Amanda Gouws from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, point out that polyandry has been common in human history, and is already practiced today in parts of Cameroon, Nigeria and Kenya.
– The advantage of polyandry is that since there is not one male authority, power is spread throughout the union. Real estate is owned collectively, and the union tends to be more financially successful. Since there is certainty that any of the men can be the father, upbringing is a social and collective task, they write in a report.
The government itself acknowledges that the issue is controversial.
– This is the beginning of an important public debate that will redefine the concept of marriage. The process will reveal challenges that may create discomfort for some of us, but will at the same time encourage dialogue in both the South African and international community, the government writes.
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Picture of Johannesburg, May 8 this year, taken from the 51st floor of the Ponte City Tower. Photo: Luca Sola / AFP / NTB
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