Zulu hopes to have new Marriage Bill on president’s desk by year-end
Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu told MPs on Wednesday she hopes the new Marriage Amendment Bill will be on the president’s desk before the end of the year.
Zulu was responding to questions by MPs in the National Assembly on Wednesday.
One aspect of the bill is the issue of child marriages. Should the bill be passed, it would mean parents would no longer be allowed to give consent for their minor children to marry.
Zulu said her department is aiming to bring the number of under-age marriages down to zero.
"As far as the Marriage Bill is concerned, it is part of our responsibility from the government of the ANC to make sure that legislation and regulation that needs to be passed is passed. The process has just concluded with public comment. The Minister of Home Affairs will table the bill in Parliament before the end of the year. Should Parliament pass this important instrument, it will be up to the president to enact it into an act of Parliament.”
The law currently permits minors to enter into customary and civil marriages with consent from their parent or guardian or from the minister of home affairs should the bride be aged 15 and under.
However, this could change should the Draft Marriage Bill be passed, as it will scrap underage marriages.
Zulu said it is important to assist communities to improve their understanding of the bill.
"What is important for my department is to have action plans that are supposed to assist in educating our communities. It's good for them to know that there is legislation, but when all is said and done, it is beyond the legislation.
“It is about what happens and what is understood by our communities. That is why as a department, we say let us deal with some of these issues, house to house. It is one thing for me to explain the bill. It is another when we go and see what is happening within our communities," said Zulu.
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