Woman pushes for change to polyandry marriage laws
The symbolic wedding of a married woman to a second husband in Ballito, KZN, has reignited debate over gender equality, cultural norms and legal inconsistencies in SA’s marriage laws, reports The Citizen.
Jo-Leen Geldenhuys (34) – known as the ‘Pink Pitbull’ in boxing circles – married her boxing coach, Santini Lee (38), in a traditional, though not legally binding, ceremony at Salmon Bay on 26 April.
She remains legally married to her husband of 12 years, Jack Geldenhuys (37), with who she has four children.
Polyandry – where a woman has multiple husbands – is not recognised under SA law, while polygamy for men is permitted under customary law.
Geldenhuys' ‘lifestyle has drawn online criticism, but she says prejudice comes from across cultural lines, not just her community.
SA’s Constitution guarantees equality before the law and prohibits discrimination on grounds such as marital status (section 9.3, Bill of Rights).
Geldenhuys believes this clause should support the legalisation of polyandry. Polyandry is not uncommon around the world, but is rarely accepted.
It is legal in Nigeria and Kenya. In India and Tibet, fraternal polyandry – where a woman marries two brothers – is allowed.
A 2021 green paper by the Department of Home Affairs proposed the legal recognition of polyandry in SA, sparking fierce national debate, with many conservative voices labelling it ‘unAfrican’.
One prominent critic of the proposal was reality TV star Musa Mseleku, who has four wives.
The main concerns raised by Mseleku involved the potential impact on family structure and the legal complexities of determining paternity.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
