The Constitutionality of the Non-Recognition of Domestic Partnerships in South Africa: Revisited
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18690/lexonomica.17.2.203-246.2025Keywords:
domestic partnerships, civil marriages, South African family law, constitutionality, legislative reformsAbstract
Marriage has traditionally been defined as the legally recognized voluntary union for life in common of one man and one woman, to the exclusion of all others while it lasts. Whether this definition still holds true for South Africa is questionable as major changes in societal attitudes and behaviour reflect a growing number of different or alternate lifestyles. Currently, there is an increasing number of couples who choose to live together without formalizing their relationship in the eyes of the law. These relationships where couples live together and set up a common household are. referred to as domestic partnerships. South African family law only affords legal protection and recognition to civil marriages solemnised in terms of statutory law. The protection afforded to civil marriages does not extend to domestic partnerships. The question which arises is whether the law’s refusal to grant legal recognition and protection to domestic partnerships can be regarded as unconstitutional.
Povzetek
Zakonska zveza je bila tradicionalno opredeljena kot zakonsko priznana prostovoljna zveza za skupno življenje enega moškega in ene ženske, ki izključuje vse druge, dokler traja. Ali ta opredelitev še vedno velja za Južno Afriko, je vprašljivo, saj velike spremembe v družbenih odnosih in vedenju odražajo vse večje število različnih ali alternativnih načinov življenja. Trenutno je vse več parov, ki se odločijo za skupno življenje, ne da bi svojo zvezo formalizirali v očeh zakona. Ti odnosi, v katerih pari živijo skupaj in ustvarijo skupno gospodinjstvo, se imenujejo partnerske skupnosti. Južnoafriško družinsko pravo zagotavlja pravno zaščito in priznanje le civilnim zakonskim zvezam, sklenjenim v skladu z zakonskimi določbami. Zaščita, ki jo zagotavlja civilna zakonska zveza, se ne razteza na partnerske skupnosti. Vprašanje, ki se poraja, je, ali se lahko zavrnitev zakonskega priznanja in zaščite partnerskih skupnosti (na ravni zakona) šteje za neustavno.
Downloads
References
Albertyn, C., & Kentridge, J. (1994). Introducing the right to equality in the Interim Constitution. South African Journal on Human Rights (SAJHR), 10(2), 149-178.
Barratt, A., Denson, S., Domingo, W., Mahler-Coetzee, N., & Osman, F. (2023). Law of persons and the family. Maskew Miller Learning.
Bradley, D. (1989). The development of a legal status for unmarried cohabitation in Sweden. Anglo-American Law Review, 18, 322-334.
Clark, B. (2002). Families and domestic partnerships. South African Law Journal, 119, 634-648.
Clark, B. (1999). Duty of support between cohabitees. In B. van Heerden, A. Cockrell, & R. Keightley (Eds.), Boberg’s law of persons and the family (2nd ed.). Juta.
Cronje, D. S. P., & Heaton, J. (2000). South African family law. Butterworths.
Hahlo, H. R. (1972). The law of concubinage. South African Law Journal, 89, 321-332.
Hutchings, A., & Delport, E. (1992). Cohabitation: A responsible approach. De Rebus, 121-125.
Kruuse, H. (2009). “Here’s to you, Mrs Robinson”: Peculiarities and paragraph 29 in determining the treatment of domestic partnerships. South African Journal on Human Rights, 25, 380-391.
Madzika, H. (2020). Dawn of a new era for permanent life partners: From Volks v Robinson to Bwanya v Master of the High Court. De Jure Law Journal, 53, 393-406.
Meyerson, D. (2010). Who’s in and who’s out? Inclusion and exclusion in the family law jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. Constitutional Court Review, 3, 295-316.
Midgley, R. (1984). The effect of the cohabitative relationship on divorce proceedings. Speculum Juris, 52-64.
Pothier, R.-J. (1853). A treatise on the law of partnership (O. D. Tudor, Trans.; 1.3.8).
Schwellnus, T. (2001). Cohabitation. In B. Clark (Ed.), Family Law Service. LexisNexis.
Schwellnus, T. (1995). The legal position of cohabitees in South African law. Obiter, 16, 133.
Sinclair, J., & Heaton, J. (1996). The law of marriage. Juta.
South African Law Reform Commission. (2001). Issue Paper 17 (Questionnaire), Project 118: Domestic Partnerships. https://www.justice.gov.za/salrc/ipapers/ip17_prj18_quest.pdf (accessed 26. 6. 2025).
South African Law Reform Commission. (2003). Discussion Paper 104, Project 118: Domestic Partnerships. https://www.justice.gov.za/salrc/dpapers/dp104.pdf (accessed 26. 6. 2025).
South African Law Reform Commission. (2019). Issue Paper 35 (Single Marriage Statute), Project 144). https://www.justice.gov.za/salrc/ipapers/ip35_prj144_SingleMarriageStatute.pdf (accessed 26. 6. 2025).
South African Law Reform Commission. (2021). Discussion Paper 152: Single Marriage Statute, Project 144. https://www.justice.gov.za/salrc/dpapers/dp152-prj144-SingleMarriageStatute.pdf (accessed 26. 6. 2025).
Statistics South Africa. (2024). Marriages and divorces, 2022 (Statistical release P0307). https://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0307/P03072022.pdf (accessed 26. 6. 2025).
Steyn, M. (1998). From closet to constitution: The gay family rights odyssey. Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg 97.
Thomas, P. (1984). Konkubinaat. Tydskrif vir Hedendaagse Romeins-Hollandse Reg, 47, 455.
Woolman, S., & Bishop, M. (2014). Constitutional law of South Africa (loose-leaf ed.). Juta.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 University of Maribor, University Press
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
© Univerza v Mariboru, Pravna fakulteta, Univerzitetna založba
Prosti pristop