South Africa’s Parliament has entered the final stage of public consultations on the proposed Marriage Bill, a landmark piece of legislation that will unify the country’s three existing marriage laws and introduce sweeping reforms, including a blanket ban on child marriages.
The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs will hold its last round of hearings in Limpopo next week, marking the final opportunity for the public to shape the Bill before it moves toward adoption.
The reform comes against the backdrop of a persistent child‑marriage problem in South Africa, particularly in rural provinces such as Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu‑Natal.
Although current laws prohibit most under‑age unions, loopholes in the Marriage Act and Recognition of Customary Marriages Act have allowed minors to marry with parental or ministerial consent.
Rights groups say these gaps have enabled harmful practices to continue, exposing girls to early pregnancy, school dropout and long‑term economic vulnerability.
The new Bill seeks to close these loopholes by setting the minimum marriage age at 18 without exception and criminalising anyone who facilitates or solemnises a marriage involving a minor.
It also consolidates civil, customary and religious marriages under a single statute and expands the designation of marriage officers to include traditional leaders.
Additional provisions aim to curb fraudulent marriages, particularly those involving foreign nationals.
Committee chairperson Mosa Chabane said the final hearings are essential to ensuring the legislation reflects the needs and values of South Africans.
“Public participation is not only a civic duty, but a cornerstone of participatory democracy,” he said.
Public hearings held across the country last year revealed strong support for the Bill’s child‑protection measures although some participants called for the minimum marriage age to be raised to 21.
Others raised concerns about the recognition of same‑sex marriages and the regulation of cross‑border unions.
Parliament’s Public Education Office has been conducting outreach to ensure communities understand the Bill and can make informed submissions.
The committee has urged Limpopo residents to attend the hearings and contribute to what it describes as a transformative overhaul of South Africa’s marriage framework.
JN/APA