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Residents from Mbombela in Mpumalanga believe the Marriage Bill will end the worrying cultural tradition of ‘ukuthwala’, where young girls are often forced into marrying older men.

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has conducted one of three public hearings of the Bill at the Mbombela Local Municipality Civic Centre, marking the first of the public hearings' legs on the Bill in Mpumalanga.

According to participants, clauses contained in Chapter 7 of the Bill will provide the required deterrent against males inclined to continue the practice of ukuthwala, also known as bride kidnapping. Also, some participants welcomed the extension of imprisonment to five years to anyone who marries someone without their consent.

“There were some concerns raised by marriage officers and prospective marriage officers that the Bill is not practical and does not address lived realities. They argued that it would be impossible for marriage officers to ascertain mental impairment in prospective spouses. They pointed out that they are not trained and capable of making determinations of that kind, and that this will cause them to make mistakes and be subjected to penalties that are spelled out in Chapter 7,” committee chairperson Mosa Chabane said.

18:T607,Residents from Mbombela in Mpumalanga believe the Marriage Bill (https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/is-18-too-young-for-marriage-south-africas-marriage-bill-sparks-heated-discussions-724ef957-9afa-45fc-9d1f-c2194af1a912) will end the worrying c