Hindus Seek South African Recognition Of Religious Marriages

In South Africa, according to a PTI report, Hindus are seeking amendments to the country's Marriage Act to gain legal recognition of religious marriages that have not been formally registered with the government. This would be consistent with 1998 legislation that granted recognition to African customary marriages that are not registered. Information about that legislation came out in the hearing in Durban's High Court on a petition by a woman who has separated from her husband and who now seeks recognition of her Hindu marriage 18 years ago so she can now get a legal separation that will permit her to marry someone else. (IOL report.) The same issue arises for Muslims, and in another case a Cape Town woman is seeking international judicial assistance after South Africa's Constitutional Court refused to recognize her Muslim marriage entered 28 years ago.