EC religious leaders against officiating same-sex unions despite lawfulness

CAPE TOWN - Almost 20 years since same-sex marriage was legalised in South Africa, religious leaders in the Eastern Cape are still vehemently opposed to it. 

During a public hearing on the new marriages bill in Mthatha on Monday, many residents said while they are mostly in support of the aims of the proposed legislation t- they do not believe same-sex unions should be included. 

The bill aims to consolidate the three existing marriage laws into one - including same-sex marriages which are currently governed by the Civil Union Act. 

While Mthatha residents debated increasing the legal age for marriage above 18 - and whether the proposed law should also cover polygamous marriages, was same-sex marriages that raised the most opposition. 

Religious leaders say they don’t want to be put in the position of refusing to marry same-sex couples because it’s not in line with their beliefs.

Said one: “I’m totally against same-sex marriage.”

“The issue of same-sex marriages, it gives us a problem in the congregation that we lead,” added another.

However, a representative of the advocacy group Sonke Social Change said the LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual) community is pleased Parliament was considering them. 

“In the communities, we are not accepted, because the religious leaders will always quote the bible.”

The Home Affairs Department’s legal advisor, Moses Malakate, pointed out that rights enshrined in the Constitution could not be accorded to some and not others.

The new bill will also include Muslim marriages that have until now not been provided for in law. 

The provincial hearings continue in Komani (Queenstown) on Tuesday.