Same-sex marriage in South Africa

Same-sex marriage in South Africa has been legal since the Civil Union Act came into force on 30 November 2006. The decision of the Constitutional Court in the case of Minister of Home Affairs v Fourie on 1 December 2005 extended the common-law definition of marriage to include same-sex spouses—as the Constitution of South Africa guarantees equal protection before the law to all citizens regardless of sexual orientation—and gave Parliament one year to rectify the inequality in the marriage statutes. On 14 November 2006, the National Assembly passed a law allowing same-sex couples to legally solemnise their union 229 to 41, which was subsequently approved by the National Council of Provinces on 28 November in a 36 to 11 vote, and the law came into effect two days later.

South Africa was the fifth country, the first and as of August 2019 only in Africa to legalise same-sex marriage.

History

Background

South Africa was the first country in the world to safeguard sexual orientation as a human right in its Constitution. Both the Interim Constitution, which came into force on 27 April 1994, and the final Constitution, which replaced it on 4 February 1997, forbid discrimination on the basis of sex, gender or sexual orientation. These equality rights formed the basis for a series of court decisions granting specific rights to couples in long-term same-sex relationships:

• Langemaat v Minister of Safety and Security (1998) recognised the reciprocal duty of support between same-sex partners, and extended medical insurance benefits.
• National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality v Minister of Home Affairs (1999) extended immigration benefits to foreign partners of South African citizens.
• Satchwell v President of the Republic of South Africa (2002) extended remuneration and pension benefits.
• Du Toit v Minister of Welfare and Population Development (2002) allowed same-sex couples to adopt children jointly.
• J v Director General, Department of Home Affairs (2003) allowed both partners to be recorded as the parents of a child conceived through artificial insemination.
• Du Plessis v Road Accident Fund (2003) recognised the claim for loss of support when a same-sex partner is negligently killed.
• Gory v Kolver NO (2006) allowed inheritance of the estate of a partner who died intestate.

The Fourie case

Main article: Minister of Home Affairs v Fourie

In 2002, a lesbian couple, Marié Fourie and Cecelia Bonthuys, with the support of the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project, launched an application in the Pretoria High Court to have their union recognised and recorded by the Department of Home Affairs as a valid marriage. Judge Pierre Roux dismissed the application on 18 October 2002, on the technical basis that they had not properly attacked the constitutionality of the definition of marriage or the Marriage Act, 1961.

Fourie and Bonthuys requested leave to appeal to the Constitutional Court, but this was denied and the High Court instead granted leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). They applied to the Constitutional Court for direct access, but this was denied on 31 July 2003; the court stated that the case raised complex issues of common and statutory law on which the SCA's views should first be heard.

Fourie and Bonthuys therefore appealed the High Court judgment to the SCA, which handed down its decision on 30 November 2004. The five-judge court ruled unanimously that the common-law definition of marriage was invalid because it unconstitutionally discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation, and that it should be extended to read "Marriage is the union of two persons to the exclusion of all others for life." The court further unanimously noted that because Fourie and Bonthuys had not challenged the Marriage Act, the court could not invalidate it, and, therefore, their marriage could not immediately be solemnized. The court divided, however, on whether the couple should be given an immediate remedy in implementing the new, wider common-law definition of marriage. The majority opinion, written by Judge Edwin Cameron, ruled that the new definition should apply immediately. In a dissenting opinion, Judge Ian Farlam was of the opinion that the court's order declaring the common-law definition invalid should be suspended for two years to allow Parliament to adopt its own remedy for the situation.

The Government appealed the SCA's ruling to the Constitutional Court, arguing that a major alteration to the institution of marriage was for Parliament and not the courts to decide, while Fourie and Bonthuys cross-appealed, arguing that the Marriage Act should be altered as Judge Farlam had suggested. In the meanwhile, the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project had also launched a separate lawsuit directly attacking the constitutionality of the Marriage Act, which was originally to be heard in the Johannesburg High Court; the Constitutional Court granted the Project's request to have it heard and decided simultaneously with the Fourie case.

On 1 December 2005, the Constitutional Court handed down its decision: the nine justices agreed unanimously that the common-law definition of marriage and the marriage formula in the Marriage Act, to the extent that they excluded same-sex partners from marriage, were unfairly discriminatory, unjustifiable, and therefore unconstitutional and invalid. In a widely quoted passage from the majority ruling, Justice Albie Sachs wrote:

"The exclusion of same-sex couples from the benefits and responsibilities of marriage, accordingly, is not a small and tangential inconvenience resulting from a few surviving relics of societal prejudice destined to evaporate like the morning dew. It represents a harsh if oblique statement by the law that same-sex couples are outsiders, and that their need for affirmation and protection of their intimate relations as human beings is somehow less than that of heterosexual couples. It reinforces the wounding notion that they are to be treated as biological oddities, as failed or lapsed human beings who do not fit into normal society, and, as such, do not qualify for the full moral concern and respect that our Constitution seeks to secure for everyone. It signifies that their capacity for love, commitment and accepting responsibility is by definition less worthy of regard than that of heterosexual couples."

— Paragraph 71 of the judgment

There was some disagreement about the remedy: the majority (eight of the justices) ruled that the declaration of invalidity should be suspended for a year to allow Parliament to correct the situation, as there were different ways in which this could be done, and the Law Reform Commission had already investigated several proposals. If Parliament did not end the inequality by 1 December 2006, then words would automatically be "read in" to the Marriage Act to allow same-sex marriages. Justice Kate O'Regan dissented, arguing that these words should be read in immediately.

Civil Union Act

Main article: Civil Union Act, 2006

On 24 August 2006, the Cabinet approved the Civil Union Bill for submission to Parliament. The bill as initially introduced would only have allowed civil partnerships which would be open only to same-sex couples and have the same legal consequences as marriage. It also included provisions to recognise domestic partnerships between unmarried partners, both same-sex and opposite-sex. The state law advisers, who screen laws for constitutionality and form, declined to certify the bill, suggesting that it failed to follow the guidelines laid down by the Constitutional Court. The Joint Working Group, a network of LGBTI organisations, described the idea of a separate marriage law for same-sex couples as "an apartheid way of thinking".

On 16 September, thousands of South Africans took to the streets in several cities to protest same-sex marriage. The minor opposition African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) pushed for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman; this was rejected by the National Assembly's portfolio committee on Home Affairs. Public hearings on the bill began on 20 September. On 7 October, the Marriage Alliance organised a march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to hand to government representatives a memorandum opposing same-sex marriage.

On 9 October, the governing African National Congress voted to support the bill. Although the party had been split on the issue, the vote meant that ANC MPs would be obliged to support the bill in Parliament. The full party support came after members of the national executive committee reminded party members that the ANC had fought for human rights, which included gay rights.

It was originally expected that the National Assembly would vote on the bill on 20 October in order to allow enough time for the National Council of Provinces to debate and vote on it ahead of the 1 December deadline. The vote was repeatedly delayed as the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs was still involved in discussions. In response to the argument that 'separate but equal' civil partnerships would not comply with the Constitutional Court's ruling, the Portfolio Committee amended the bill to allow either marriages or civil partnerships, and to allow them to both same- and opposite-sex couples. The chapter dealing with the recognition of domestic partnerships was also removed.

On 13 November, one day before the bill would be read for a final reading in the National Assembly, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said:

The roots of this bill lie in many years of struggle... This country cannot afford to be a prison of timeworn prejudices which have no basis in modern society. Let us bequeath to future generations a society which is more democratic and tolerant than the one that was handed down to us.

The amended bill was passed by the National Assembly on 14 November by 229 votes to 41, and by the National Council of Provinces on 28 November by 36 votes to 11. Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, acting for President Thabo Mbeki, signed it into law on 29 November, and it became law the following day, one day before the Constitutional Court's order would otherwise have come into force. Minister of Home Affairs Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said the law was only a temporary measure, noting that a fuller marriage law would be formulated to harmonise the several pieces of marriage legislation now in force.

14 November 2006 vote in the National Assembly

Party	Voted for	Voted against	Abstained
African National Congress (ANC)	207 Arthur Ainslie Tuelo Anthony Jonathan Arendse Kader Asmal Ngconde Balfour Masenyani Baloyi Jean Benjamin Francois Beukman Yusuf Bhamjee Fezile Bhengu Denis Bloem Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu Trevor Bonhomme Mnyamezeli Booi Cecil Burgess Ismail Cachalia Yunus Carrim Mosie Cele Judy Chalmers Hlomane Chauke Fatima Chohan-Khota Johannes Combrinck Jeremy Cronin Siyabonga Cwele Johannes De Lange Letsau Diale Angela Didiza Mgolodi Dikgacwi Isabella Direko Sello Dithebe David Dlali Geoffey Doidge Dirk Du Toit Alec Erwin Nkosinathi Fihla Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi Cedric Frolick Joanmariae Fubbs Pico Gabanakgosi André Gaum Mluleki George Pierre-Jeanne Gerber Knowledge Gigaba Christopher Gololo Donald Gumede Mogomotsi Gumede Lindiwe Hendricks Peter Hendrickse Barbara Hogan Shiaan-Bin Huang Loretta Jacobus John Jeffery Carol Johnson Mlungisi Johnson Zweledinga Jordan Mziwamadoda Kalako Onewang Kasienyane Ronald Kasrils Charles Kekana Lefu Khoarai Sikhumbuzo Kholwane Kenneth Khumalo Butana Komphela Gerhardus Koornhof Zunaid Kotwal Luwellyn Landers George Lekgetho Mosiuoa Lekota Tshiwela Lishivha Samuel Louw Tsietsi Louw Cikizwa Ludwabe Jerome-Joseph Maake Brigitte Mabandla Curtis Mabena Lawrence Maduma Meisie Madumise Ntando Magubane Gratitude Magwanishe Themba Mahlaba Gwendoline Mahlangu-Nkabinde Samson Mahote Shoahlane Maja Xoliswa Makasi Mamosoeu Makgate Lorna Maloney Patrick Maloyi Homes Maluleka Daniel Maluleke Millicent Manana Trevor Manuel Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula Puleng Mashangoane Lorraine Mashiane Refilwe Mashigo Buoang Mashile Tshililo Masutha Pietos Mathebe Motswaledi Matlala Mmaphefo Matsemela Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri Mothusiemang Matsomela Shepherd Mayatula Alpheus Maziya Mandlenkosi Mbili Nozizwe Mbombo Mabel Mentor Hlengiwe Mgabadeli Zakhele Mkhize Andrew Mlangeni Bafunani Mnguni Bhekinhlahla Mnyandu Lewele Modisenyane Tsokudu Mofokeng Ohentse Mogale Isaac Mogase Ismail Mohamed Manyaba Mohlaloga Aubrey Mokoena Sediane Montsitsi Kay Moonsamy Dimakatso Morobi Masafele Morutoa Kgoloko Morwamoche Bahlakoana Mosala Maxwell Moss Linda Moss Semamanyane Motubatse-Hounkpatin Mandisi Mpahlwa Sithole Mshudulu Ben Mthembu Eric Mtshali Fholisani Mufamadi Monontsi Mzondeki Zipporah Nawa Rita Ndzanga Andries Nel Mdudu Nene Nhlanhla Nene Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen Elizabeth Ngaleka Nompendulo Ngcengwane Eugene Ngcobo Lincoln Ngculu Nombuyiselo Ngele Winnie Ngwenya Sisa Njikelana Makhosazana Njobe Enyinna Nkem-Abonta Constance Nkuna Robert Nogumla Sefora Ntombela Bongi Ntuli Makhoni Ntuli Richard Ntuli Tinyiko Nwamitwa-Shilubana Samuel Nxumalo Muntu Nxumalo Archibold Nyambi Lewis Nzimande Daniel Olifant Gaolatlhe Oliphant Gerhardus Oosthuizen Randy Pieterse Mandu Ramakaba-Lesiea Mawalal Ramgobin Dorothy Ramodibe Cecilia Ramotsamai Solomon Rasmeni Lanval Reid Ebrahim Saloojee Johannes Schippers Gregory Schneemann Emanuel Schoeman Mokgothu Seadimo Molefi Sefularo Priscilla Sekgobela Cornelia September Susan Shabangu Mtikeni Sibande Jonas Sibanyoni Sipho Siboza Mdumiseni Sikakane Lindiwe Sisulu Dumisani Sithole Windvoël Skhosana Zola Skweyiya Vincent Smith Bangilizwe Solo Gassan Solomon Mzunani Sonto Jabu Sosibo Makhotso Sotyu Mohamed Surty Barbara Thomson Bulelwa Tinto Manana Tlake Lekoba Tolo Solomon Tsenoli Pamela Tshwete Randall Van Den Heever Annelizé Van Wyk Sifanelo Vundisa Chris Wang Everson Xolo Lumka Yengeni Langa Zita	-	1 Johannes Phungula
Democratic Alliance (DA)	22 Sheila Camerer Ryan Coetzee Ian Davidson Anchin Dreyer Mike Ellis Stuart Farrow Sandy Kalyan Dianne Kohler Barnard Anthony Leon Shelley Loe Christopher Lowe Gareth Morgan Pieter Rabie Hendrik Schmidt James Selfe Mudene Smuts Martin Stephens Arron Steyn Paul Swart Edward Trent André Van Niekerk Michael Waters	12 Johannes Blanché Willem Doman Roy Jankielsohn Ryno King Leslie Labuschagne James Masango Karel Minnie Adriaan Nel Sydney Opperman Mohammed Sayedali-Shah Marius Swart Salomon Van Dyk	1 Wetsho'Tsile Seremane
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)	-	12 Mfuniselwa Bhengu Inka Mars Mangaqa Mncwango Alfred Mpontshane Ruth Rabinowitz Usha Roopnarain Sybil Seaton Mabalana Sibuyana Peter Smith Jacobus Van Der Merwe Constance Zikalala Nhlahla Zulu	-
African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP)	-	4 Hendry Cupido Louis Green Kenneth Meshoe Steven Swart	-
Freedom Front Plus (FF+)	-	4 Petrus Groenewald Cornelius Mulder Pieter Mulder Willie Spies	-
Independent Democrats (ID)	-	3 Vincent Gore Lance Greyling Avril Harding	-
Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC)	-	2 Nelson Godi Salzwedel Pheko	-
United Democratic Movement (UDM)	-	2 Nonhlanhla Nkabinde Sylvia Sigcau	-
New National Party (NNP)	-	1 Stanley Simmons	-
United Christian Democratic Party (UCDP)	-	1 Bafitlhile Pule	-
Total	229	41	2

28 November 2006 vote in the National Council of Provinces

Party	Voted for	Voted against	Abstained
African National Congress (ANC)	33 Freddie Adams (Western Cape) Danie Botha (Limpopo) Beauty Dlulane (Eastern Cape) Dumisane Gamede (KwaZulu-Natal) Motsamai Goeieman (Northern Cape) Peggy Hollander (Northern Cape) Zolile Kolweni (North West) Elisa Mabe (Free State) Novello Mack (Western Cape) Nomopo Madlala-Magubane (Gauteng) Atwell Manyosi (Eastern Cape) Joyce Masilo (North West) Helen Matlanyane (Limpopo) Faith Mazibuko (Gauteng) Buti Mkhaliphi (Mpumalanga) Dickson Mkono (Eastern Cape) Mathupa Mokoena (Limpopo) Abram Moseki (North West) Zwelifile Ntuli (KwaZulu-Natal) Florence Nyanda (Mpumalanga) Mildred Oliphant (KwaZulu-Natal) Tutu Ralane (Free State) Marius Robertsen (Eastern Cape) Tsietsi Setona (Free State) Sicelo Shiceka (Gauteng) Joel Sibiya (Limpopo) Elliot Sogoni (Gauteng) Mohamed Sulliman (Northern Cape) Reseriti Tau (Northern Cape) Malesane Themba (Mpumalanga) Bagudi Tolo (Mpumalanga) Cornelis Van Rooyen (Free State) Victor Windvoël (Mpumalanga)	1 Abbie Mchunu (KwaZulu-Natal)	-
Democratic Alliance (DA)	3 Gregory Krumbock (KwaZulu-Natal) Denise Robinson (Western Cape) Juanita Terblanche (North West)	5 Leon Fielding (Northern Cape) Jacobus Le Roux (Eastern Cape) Motlatjo Thetjeng (Limpopo) Armiston Watson (Mpumalanga) Darryl Worth (Free State)	-
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)	-	1 Jeanette Vilakazi (KwaZulu-Natal)	-
United Democratic Movement (UDM)	-	1 Agnes Qikani (Eastern Cape)	-
Independent Democrats (ID)	-	-	1 Baitseng Matlhoahela (Northern Cape)
Freedom Front Plus (FF+)	-	1 Frederick Van Heerden (Free State)	-
United Christian Democratic Party (UCDP)	-	1 Johannes Tlhagale (North West)	-
United Independent Front (UIF)	-	1 Neville Hendrickse (Western Cape)	-
Total	36	11	1

The bill was hailed by gay and liberal activists as another step forward out of the country's apartheid past, while at the same time some clergy and traditional leaders described it as "the saddest day in our 12 years of democracy." Islamic leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed called the bill a "foreign action imposed on Africa".

The first couple to wed, Vernon Gibbs and Tony Halls, did so in George, the following day, 1 December 2006. They encountered no problems, and a second couple married later that day in the same location.

In 2013, South Africa's first traditional same-sex wedding was held, for Tshepo Cameron Modisane and Thoba Calvin Sithol in the town of KwaDukuza in KwaZulu-Natal.

Law

Same-sex sexual activity legal

  Same-sex marriage

  No recognition of same-sex couples

Same-sex sexual activity illegal

  Not enforced or unclear

  Penalty

  Life in prison

  Death penalty

Three laws currently provide for the status of marriage in South Africa. These are the Marriage Act (Act 25 of 1961), which provides for civil or religious opposite-sex marriages; the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act (Act 120 of 1998), which provides for the civil registration of marriages solemnised according to the traditions of indigenous groups; and the Civil Union Act (Act 17 of 2006), which provides for opposite-sex and same-sex civil marriages, religious marriages and civil partnerships. A person may only be married under one of these laws at any given time.

Couples marrying in terms of the Civil Union Act may choose whether their union is registered as a marriage or a civil partnership. In either case, the legal consequences are identical to those of a marriage under the Marriage Act, except for such changes as are required by the context. Any reference to marriage in any law, including the common law, is deemed to include a marriage or civil partnership in terms of the Civil Union Act; similarly, any reference to husband, wife or spouse in any law is deemed to include a reference to a spouse or civil partner in terms of the Civil Union Act.

Restrictions

The parties to a marriage or civil partnership must be 18 or older and not already married or civilly partnered. The prohibited degrees of affinity and consanguinuity that apply under the Marriage Act also apply under the Civil Union Act; thus a person may not marry his or her direct ancestor or descendant, sibling, uncle or aunt, niece or nephew, or the ancestor or descendant of an ex-spouse.

The Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, 1998 allows, in limited circumstances, a man to marry multiple wives. A person married under the Civil Union Act may not enter into marriage with a second partner until the existing marriage is dissolved.

Solemnisation

Marriages and civil partnerships must be solemnised by an authorised marriage officer. Government officials (primarily magistrates and Home Affairs civil servants) who are appointed as marriage officers under the Marriage Act are also able to solemnise marriages in terms of the Civil Union Act. Religious leaders may also be appointed as marriage officers under the Civil Union Act, but religious leaders appointed under the Marriage Act are not automatically able to solemnise marriages in terms of the Civil Union Act.

Government marriage officers who have an objection of conscience to solemnising same-sex marriages may note this objection in writing to the Minister of Home Affairs, and if they do so they cannot be compelled to solemnise same-sex marriages. (This provision does not apply to religious marriage officers because they are in any case not obliged to solemnise a marriage that would violate the doctrines of their religion.) Several constitutional scholars have argued that this provision is unconstitutional, representing as it does state-sanctioned discrimination in violation of the right to equality. In July 2017, more than a decade after same-sex marriage was legalised in South Africa, LGBT newspaper Mambaonline reported that 421 (out of 1,130) marriage officers in South Africa were exempt from performing same-sex marriages or civil unions. Of these, most were located in the Eastern Cape, the Free State and Mpumalanga. Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba announced that the Department of Home Affairs had undertaken several measures to resolve the issue, including increasing sensitisation of Home Affairs officials and ensuring that LGBT people are treated respectfully and according to policies and laws by staff.

In May 2017, MP Deidre Carter asked Minister of Home Affairs Hlengiwe Mkhize whether she would be willing to introduce legislation to repeal the objection provisions from the Civil Union Act. Minister Mkhize rejected the call, saying that "the Civil Union Act is clear in that marriage officers will not be compelled to solemnise such civil unions". She did reiterate former Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba's statement about improving sensitivity on LGBT rights among marriage officers.

In January 2018, Carter introduced the Civil Union Amendment Bill, which would repeal the objection provisions. She quoted Chapter 10 of the South African Constitution, which states that "services must be provided impartially, fairly, equitably and without bias", when lodging the bill with the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly. Carter presented her bill to the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on 15 August. Later that day, all four major political parties (the African National Congress, the Democratic Alliance, the Economic Freedom Fighters, and the Inkatha Freedom Party) announced their support for the bill, and congratulated Carter for her proposal. Supporters of the bill have pointed to a number of same-sex couples who were turned away when wanting to marry, including a high-profile case of a couple in Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal, who were called derogoratory names when turned away. The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) has expressed its opposition to the bill. In November 2018, the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs unanimously passed the bill, with some amendments. One of them allows officials who previously did not marry same-sex couples to continue doing so for two years. This would give the Ministry of Home Affairs time to implement the new policy. New officials, however, cannot opt out at all for any time. If a branch has an official opting out for the two year period, they must have another official available who can perform same-sex marriages. The bill was send to the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, for debate. It passed the Assembly in December. The bill was supported by all parties, expect for the ACDP, the National Freedom Party and the African Independent Congress. It must now go to the National Council of Provinces. If approved, President Cyril Ramaphosa will then sign it into law.

Discrimination

Discrimination against same-sex couples is prohibited (as is all discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation) by section 9 of the Constitution and by the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act.

Recognition of foreign unions

The Civil Union Act makes no explicit provisions for the recognition of foreign same-sex unions. As a consequence of the extension of the common-law definition of marriage, and based on the principle of lex loci celebrationis, a foreign same-sex marriage is recognised as a marriage in South African law. However, the status of foreign forms of partnership other than marriage, such as civil unions or domestic partnerships, is not clear. In a 2010 divorce case, the Western Cape High Court recognised the validity of a British civil partnership as equivalent to a marriage or civil partnership in South African law.

Criticism of the focus on same-sex marriage

Constitutional scholar Pierre de Vos has questioned the notion that the legalisation of same-sex marriage in South Africa represents the pinnacle of the human rights struggle of members of the LGBT community. He argues that those who are not involved in long term monogamous relationships and those who cannot come out of the closet and get married because of the threat of victimisation may not see any benefit from the legislation.

Religious performance

Most major religious organisations in South Africa do not perform same-sex marriages in their places of worship.

• Christianity
  • Dutch Reformed Church – The Dutch Reformed Church blesses same-sex unions and allows gay clergy. In 2015, the General Synod, with a 64% majority, decided to recognise civil unions, while continuing to define marriage as a strictly heterosexual union, bless the relationships of same-sex couples and allow gay ministers and clergy (who are not required to be celibate). The decision affected 9 of the 10 synods; with the Namibia Synod being excluded. The decision caused backlash and objections, resulting in it being reversed about a year later. A dozen church members subsequently took the denomination to court to restore the 2015 decision. In 2019, the North Gauteng High Court reversed the decision, allowing for same-sex unions to be blessed by the church.
  • Anglican Church – The Anglican Church does not permit same-sex marriages. Its marriage policies state that "holy matrimony is the lifelong and exclusive union between one man and one woman". In 2016, it voted against blessing same-sex unions. The decision split the church, with several dioceses deciding to nonetheless proceed with the blessing of same-sex relationships, notably the Diocese of Saldanha Bay. Archbishop Thabo Makgoba expressed disappointment with the decision not to bless same-sex unions, as did former Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane. Former Archbishop Desmond Tutu supports the blessing of same-sex unions.

Statistics

According to the South African Government, over 3,000 same-sex couples had married in South Africa by mid-2010. Statistics South Africa reports that a total of 3,327 marriages and civil partnerships were registered under the Civil Union Act up to the end of 2011; however, this figure only reflects marriages in which at least one of the spouses is a South African citizen or permanent resident. Furthermore, not all marriages under the Civil Union Act are between partners of the same sex, though most opposite-sex couples continue to marry under the Marriage Act, 1961.

The Statistics South Africa data are further broken down by province and year; they show that the majority of Civil Union Act marriages were registered in Gauteng and the Western Cape.

Province	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	Total
Eastern Cape	0	41	30	24	29	38	37	54	49	57	57	416
Free State	1	23	20	26	28	27	21	32	41	36	42	297
Gauteng	49	362	324	391	381	425	411	452	443	494	507	4,239
KwaZulu-Natal	8	74	87	79	63	91	81	161	220	249	245	1,358
Limpopo	0	15	10	10	7	13	6	10	16	17	15	119
Mpumalanga	3	7	11	11	16	12	16	9	24	22	32	163
North West	2	6	5	9	3	11	10	28	25	29	43	171
Northern Cape	1	11	43	75	93	106	87	81	10	15	16	538
Western Cape	16	191	227	261	238	253	320	314	346	358	391	2,915
Outside South Africa	0	2	3	2	9	11	4	3	4	4	3	45
Unspecified	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	50	6	63
Total	80	732	760	888	867	987	993	1,144	1,185	1,331	1,357	10,324

Lonely Planet has named Cape Town (in the Western Cape) one of the world's top 10 "gay wedding destinations".

Public opinion

A 2014 survey found that EFF voters were the most supportive of same-sex marriage, followed closely by DA and ANC voters.

A 2015 Ipsos poll found that 45% of South Africans supported same-sex marriage, while a further 13% supported civil unions or another form of legal recognition.

A report conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council on behalf of The Other Foundation was described by some media outlets as the first "statistically sound, nationally representative data" on LGBT issues in Africa. The report found that the proportion of those who "strongly agree" with same-sex marriage had increased tenfold from 2012 to 2015, from 1.5% to 9.9%, while the proportion of people "strongly disagreeing" dropped from 48.5% to 23.4%. The total of "agree" and "strongly agree" making 36.6% (13.5% in 2012), while the "disagree" and "strongly disagree" totaled 46% (78.5% in 2012), the others being neutral.

See also

• LGBT rights in South Africa
• Marriage in South Africa
• Recognition of same-sex unions in Africa