These are traditional unions which happen based on the community's guidelines. Polygamy is a common marriage pattern in some parts of the world. All polygamous marriages entered into in accordance with the provisions of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act are legal. Ziona Chana is living in India with his 39 wives, 94 children, 14 daughters-in-law, and 33 grandchildren. The husband in an existing customary marriage wishing to marry a second wife must apply to a competent court for such a marriage to be legal. Africans are the majority comprising 74.4% of the population. For such a union to be binding, it must abide by the customary marriage act and requirements. With prominent figures in the country having many wives, and a tradition that supports this practice, there is a high likelihood that this will continue for a while. The findings showed that woman’s lack of education and lack of economic empowerment play predominant roles in polygamous relationships. Jacob Zuma, the former president of South Africa, is a self-proclaimed polygamist. However, polygamy in South Africa is still a fact of life for many. In Australia, polygamous marriage is outlawed, but polygamous relationships are common … This practice is very common among the animist and the Muslim communities. The historical context is that when white Christian missionaries arrived in South Africa in the 19th century and encountered polygamous marriages, they preached that conversion to Christianity entailed divorcing one’s “extra” wives. The news that President Jacob Zuma, 67, has fathered his 20th child out of wedlock with … Islamic South Africans such as are found among the Cape Malays, Cape Coloureds, and Indian South Africans also allow for polygamy. Zuma's lovechild provokes debate on polygamy in South Africa . Red dots are polygamists, while blue dots are monogamists. READ ALSO: Gugu Gumede on polygamy: I respect those who do, I could never. The big question is whether or not this kind of union is legal in South Africa. After all, it is a practice that is accepted in customs and traditions of the people. The biggest… Polygamy is most concentrated in West Africa, though it is by no means limited there. From the early years, polygamy existed throughout Africa as an integral feature of family life, with culture or religion or both as its basis. Polygamy in the data is largely bigamy – 72% of respondents report that they are Polygamy in South Africa is not as strange as it would seem in different countries around the world. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. Each point is a married woman for whom the DHS data gives geographic coordinates. The court considers the interests of all parties to the marriage and may add whatever conditions the court deems just for the polygamous marriage to be valid under customary law. And Tanzanian President John … [18] Early in its history, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints practiced polygamy in the United States. Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. Detailed guideline on how to get divorce in South Africa. 52% of the population are women. In South Africa, unlike in other sub-Saharan countries, no nationwide survey has investigated polygamy except for the 2002 HIV/AIDS population-based household survey. South Africa as part of the colonial expansion of Holland in the 17th century. Overall the polygamy in Africa is a very common practice that you are going to find all over Africa, but it tends to be more popular especially in the West African countries. Thesis (1.313Mb) Date 2004. So what does the law say? Polyandry is illegal in virtually every country and strictly prohibited in Islam. It’s clear that although South Africa is not bias when it comes to religious and cultural differences within the constitution of marriage, the law still expects all … Polygamy has been cited as a possible contributor to Africa’s low savings rates (Tertilt, 2005), widespread incidence of HIV (Brahmbhatt et al., 2002), A polygamous relationship may not be everyone's cup of tea. These are: Registering the customary union is necessary. Polygamy is one of the cultural practices which are being practiced in some parts of South Africa and it is accepted amongst certain tribal groups, such as Zulus, Xhosas, etc. At Sister Wives, we fully embrace all forms of polygamy and polyamory, and provide all members of the poly community the same opportunity to find the love they seek. Four Muslim senior wives, 35 years and older, were interviewed about their experiences in a polygamous marriage. And Tanzanian President John Magufuli actively encourages polygamy, citing the 10 million more women than men in his country. Abstract. Polygamy remains common in much of Africa.1 In the “polygamy belt” stretching from Senegal to Tanzania, it is common for more than one third of married women to be polygamous (Jacoby, 1995). He has reportedly fathered 20 children among his wives and mistresses. Failing to register a customary union will however not invalidate it. Polygamy is the practice of having more than one spouse. According to Merriam-Webster polygamy is defined as "marriage in which a spouse of either sex may have more than one mate at the same time". ... and how to judge what behaviour is acceptable in a nation with a dozen distinct ethnic groups. In February he told men to marry “two or more wives” to reduce the number of single women. South Africa is one of a few countries where polygamy is actual legal. Splinter groups left the Church to continue the practice after the Church banned it. South Africa is a diverse country and polygamy is actually a norm in many cultural groups and some religions. I map African polygamy in Figure 1. Hendricks, Shariefa. Splinter groups left the Church to continue the practice after the Church banned it. For example in Senegal there are almost 47% of the marriages where they feature more than one woman. Polygamy (from Late Greek πολυγαμία, polygamía, "state of marriage to many spouses") is the practice of marrying multiple spouses.When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, sociologists call this polygyny.When a woman is married to more than one husband at a time, it is called polyandry.A marriage including multiple husbands and wives is a group marriage. SOUTH AFRICA Located in the Southern tip of Africa. Polygamy is the practice of being wed to more than one spouse. This is where they must have negotiated and celebrated the unions. Polygamy is still rampant in many countries in the Horn of Africa and East Africa even as the practice loses popularity in Muslim-majority communities of North Africa, said Hala al-Karib, a Sudanese activist who runs the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, a network of civil society groups. Hence former President Jacob Zuma currently has four legally-recognised wives. However, it isn’t a necessary requirement for a valid union. Polygamous marriages in South Africa While polygamous unions are common in South Africa, the question remains what the marriage act South Africa directs. The minority groups include Whites, Indian/Asians and Colored. Despite the tough life expenses, there are men out there who can manage to have more than one wife and sustain them very well. Even with so much talk of polygamy, more often than not this kind of arrangement works in customary unions. A person married under the Civil Union Act which allows same-sex couples to marry, may not enter into marriage with a second partner until the existing marriage is dissolved. Author. Specifically, polygyny is the practice of one man taking more than one wife while polyandry is the practice of one woman taking more than one husband. This is a concern for most men as they do not want to leave any of their wives and children suffering because they do not enjoy the identity of a civil union. There are two types of customary marriages namely the living and the official customary unions. To be married in community of property means that all assets and debts from before the union are to be shared in a joint estate between the two spouses. South Africa, has raised the profile of polygamy (Wunderink 2009:17), but Isabel Phiri (a theology professor in KwaZulu-Natal) expresses concern at the fact that, traditionally, “polygamy, which was a practice of rich men with the land and money to support a large family, is now practised by middle-class and poor men” (Wunderink 2009:18). Customary marriage: meaning, requirements and registration 2019, Musa Mseleku biography: daughter, wives, fifth wife, wedding, businesses, job, cars and net worth, Zuma new wife: The photos of all Jacob Zuma's wives and each one's story. The pros and cons of being married in community of property. No longer under the previous rule of Christian whites, post-apartheid South Africa has also legalized polygamy. For example, the practise of polygamy is predominant among the Shangaan, Swati and Zulu tribes in South Africa [12, 13], which are found in these provinces. Polygamy in South Africa : an exploratory study of women's experiences. Metadata Show full item record. While urban Zulu communities have found it difficult to uphold the arrangement, those in … In case lobola has been paid, this is proof that the union was negotiated as per the necessary customs, according to customary marriages act. Polygamy is legal under certain circumstances in South Africa. According to (Gaskiyane; 2000:97), the concept is defined as culturally determined, socially acceptable and legally recognised form permanent marriage where …show more content… Polygamy i s a phenomenon often associated with Africa n people. Many of the indigenous Bantu peoples, both Christians and Indigenous, are polygamous. In addition to the two groups mentioned: Egypt, Morocco, Malaysia, Iran and Libya permit polygamy as well. The joint estate also applies to liabilities, assets and debts too. Polygyny is legal in 58 out of nearly 200 sovereign states, the vast majority of them being Muslim-majority countries in Africa and Asia. Experts believe that customary marriages ought to be treated independently as there are no two unions that are similar. Last Will and testament South Africa: Everything you should know about wills and testaments. In South Africa, where former president Jacob Zuma has four wives, polygamy has long been legal under customary arrangements. (South Africa Society and … It is legal in South Africa under certain circumstances. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! This is a concern for most men as they do not want to leave any of their wives and children suffering because they do not enjoy the identity of a civil union. He should also offer a written contract that states how the property in the unions will be regulated to protect or cover all the interests of the spouses involved. Polygamy in South Africa is not something that will shock Mzanzi people considering that even the highest in society engage in it. Zuma`s lovechild sparks debate on polygamy in South Africa. No longer under the previous rule of Christian whites, post-apartheid South Africa has also legalized polygamy. It’s only a matter of time before the homosexual agenda in South Africa reaches an even more radical level, as it already has in the U.S.A., where certain groups are seeking to legalize pedophilia, polygamy, and polyandry. Polygamous marriages are not allowed under the Marriage Act and the Civil Unions Act. Shaka of the Zulu in South Africa is believed to have been keeping over hundred concubines and wives (Hansungule, 2003: 10). So what does the law say? The customary law must have been followed. The specific ethnic groups studied include the Zulu, Sotho and Xhosa groups. While it may sound a bit strange in modern times, it is a practice that is ingrained in the hearts of certain men, especially those with the means to take care of more than one wife. However, if a second wife is married without the first having been registered, the first union will be invalidated. This ensures that customary marriages are valid. Protecting his unions by registering them, regardless of how they married is necessary. One cannot deny that legal complications usually arise from unions that are based on traditional and religious foundations, especially when the breadwinner dies. (Kalev 2004) In some contexts, such as South Africa, proponents of polygamy present it as a reflection of openness in a newly democratic society. Official customary law is in the legislation while living customary law comes through in every day practices and will differ from one community to the other. Many of the indigenous Bantu peoples, both Christians and Indigenous, are polygamous. —James Dobson3 TRAVERSING THE SLOPE In the spring of 2008, two remarkable interventions in U.S. family life In case of a joint estate, the husband should apply to the high court for permission to enter into a polygamous union as a mandatory requirement. Jacob Zuma, the former president of South Africa, is a self-proclaimed polygamist. Eleven official languages. This is where civil marriage in South Africa comes in handy as it works as a protection of some sort. Step-by-step guide on how to perform the marital status check in South Africa, Get the news that matters from one of the leading news sites in South Africa, Ace Magashule: Deadline draws nearer for beleaguered politician to step aside, Man's dislike of Trevor Noah spills over into viral rant clip, SA steps in, Here we go again: Prince Kaybee and Maphorisa clash over Amapiano origins. Both must consent to the union under customary law. [18] Early in its history, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints practiced polygamy in the United States. The question therefore arises Muslim populations and other ethnic groups in South Africa, like the Tsonga, also practice polygamy. In South Africa, where former president Jacob Zuma has four wives, polygamy has long been legal under customary arrangements. The legal status of polygamy varies widely around the world. Polygamy is specific to one person being married to multiple partners or sister wives, while polyamory refers to a wider range multi-partner relationships. The Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998, states that polygamous unions are recognized under South African law. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Divided into nine provinces. A nation of over 47 million people. (GLEJ 2013, 5) 11 The cultural justifications for polygamy for the most part reflect the patriarchal organization of society and the subjugation of women in that context. [1][2], Kurdish-controlled areas criminalize polygamy, South Africa spends $2 million on Zuma's wives & children, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Polygamy_in_South_Africa&oldid=1014190866, Marriage, unions and partnerships in South Africa, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 25 March 2021, at 17:58. He has been married five times, and is currently married to four different women. Therefore only men are allowed to marry more than one spouse of the opposite sex at the same time. The following are details you need to note about polygamous marriage in South Africa, at least before you get yourself into one. Islamic South Africans such as are found among the Cape Malays, Cape Coloureds, and Indian South Africans also allow for polygamy. Either way customary unions must be entered into in terms of tradition. With the recognition of customary marriages act, it is important that the polygamous man takes care of his own family. Ironically, the most significant problem for missionaries of that period was the practice of polygamy which still exists today within South African society. Less … Even so, there are those that can accommodate it. While polygamous unions are common in South Africa, the question remains what the marriage act South Africa directs. "Polygamy is permitted under customary law and is common in rural areas. Today, polygamy is practiced by more than seven of the country’s ethnic groups, including the Nguni people. View/ Open. Many of the indigenous Bantu peoples, both Christians and Indigenous, are polygamous and Islamic South Africans such as the Cape Malays, Cape Coloureds and Indian South Africans who are Muslim also allow for polygamy. South African traditionalists have been well known to practice polygamy and the topic has been a serious political issue in the past several years, especially in the 2009 elections. 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