Outcry Over Possible Legalization Of Polyandry While Polygamy Already Legal In South Africa

The Department of Home Affairs in South Africa has proposed that women in the country should legally be allowed to marry multiple men. Men in the country can already marry multiple women, the move will be a step towards making marriage more inclusive. Conservatives have voiced their disapproval of the proposal stating that it could “destroy African culture”.

The legalization of polyandry is a part of the Green Paper on Marriages in South Africa that the department has proposed. The papers not only propose multiple marriages for women, but they also propose a number of changes to the marriage laws of the nation. The department claims that the push is to make the country’s marriage policies stronger.

The Green Papers were proposed after the department consulted with multiple individuals and bodies. They held discussions with religious leaders, human rights activists, traditional leaders, and other relevant groups, CNN reported. The discussion was over key issues of marriage.

Human rights activists pointed out that the legalization of polyandry is a necessary step towards equality as polygamy is already legal. The step would mean that all citizens, irrespective of gender, could choose between marrying a single partner or marrying multiple partners.

The green papers noted that there were those who opposed polygamy but it was still legal in the country. It also pointed out that many who were for polygamy were opposed to polyandry. This indicates that the problem is not with a person having multiple partners, but the problem is of a woman having multiple partners.

Speaking to BBC, researcher and academic Collis Machoko stated that the objection was about control. He said that the African society feared losing control over women.

One of the well-known opposers of the right to polyandry is Musa Mseleku. The television personality has four wives. He claims that adapting polyandry will lead to the destruction of African culture. He raises the question that if a woman is marrying multiple men will she pay the “bride price” for the men. He questions if the men will be taking the last name of the woman that they marry. He even asks how the children born to polyandrous families will know the identity of their fathers. Mseleku stated, “The woman cannot now take the role of the man. It's unheard of.”

The South African government is discussing the papers till June 30. They are welcoming comments on the proposals in the papers till then.