consent

Marriage Bill sparks debate: should South Africa raise consent age to 21?

The National Assembly's portfolio committee is urging patience as heated debates emerge over South Africa's Marriage Bill, with Eastern Cape residents pushing to raise the legal marriage age from 18 to 21. While the Bill aims to align with Constitutional Court rulings and criminalise marriages involving minors, religious organisations warn it could inadvertently criminalise traditional ceremonies and infringe on religious freedoms. Public hearings continue across five more provinces before final deliberations begin.