Parliament,Saturday, 14 June 2025 – The legal age of consent for South Africans to get married dominated the Portfolio on Home Affairs’ public hearings on the Marriage Bill today in Ngaka Modiri Molema Municipality in North West where residents raised concerns about the proposed 18-years legal age of consent in the Bill for individuals to get married.
Residents who attended the public hearings on the Bill at the North West Provincial Legislature Auditorium in Mahikeng told the committee that 18-years was too young for people to get married. They suggested that the age of consent must be increased to 21 years.
They argued that 18-year-olds are still at school and not matured enough for marriage and would not have the means to marry and start a family. Furthermore,they argued that children of that age should still be at school and should focus on their studies not marriage.
Most participants at the public hearings who came from different Christian organisations in the province told the committee that apart from their reservations about the 18 years age of consent, they support the idea of a single marriage Bill and its objectives to ensure inclusivity and equality.They urged the committee to reconsider this part and suggested 21 years as a reasonable age for people for marriage.
Except for the concern about the age of consent and some opposition to same sex marriages, especially from religious and traditional leaders, there was general support for the Marriage Bill.
There was also a submission from members of the public that marriage and immigration laws must speak to each other to avoid an abuse of the law by foreign nationals who get married to acquire citizenship.
Committee Chairperson, Mr Mosa Chabane, commended the residents for raising their concerns on the Bill and assured them all their inputs will be considered when the committee deliberates on the draft legislation, after consultation in all nine provinces.
He said all issues raised by the public relating to Department of Home Affairs services will be addressed with the Director-General.
“The issue of fraudulent marriages to foreign nationals is a common problem throughout the country, it requires all of us as stakeholders to work together.In the sixth administration the committee dealt with the matter with then Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and agreed that we need to investigate the syndicates both inside and outside the department, there is work going on, and people are being arrested,” said Mr Chabane.
The Marriage Bill aims to consolidate the different marriage laws, which include the Marriage Act, Recognition of Customary Marriages Act and the Civil Union Act, into one inclusive legislation for all types of marriages. It will also implement a judgment of the Constitutional Court to recognise Muslims marriages which have been previously excluded from the current legislation.
The committee will conclude the North West leg of the public hearings on the Marriage Bill tomorrow in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, in Vryburg.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HOME AFFAIRS, MR MOSA CHABANE.
For media enquiries or interviews with the committee Chairperson, please contact:
Name:Sakhile Mokoena
Cell:081 705 2130
E-mail:smokoena@parliament.gov.za
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