Question NW3694 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
29 November 2017 - NW3694
Stander, Ms T to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
By what date will the proposed Prohibition of Forced Marriages and Child Marriages Bill be introduced in the National Assembly?
Reply:
The South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) is conducting research into the practice of ukuthwala. As part of this research, the SALRC published a revised discussion paper containing preliminary proposals for law reform, as well as a draft Bill titled “Prohibition of Forced Marriages and Child Marriages Bill” in October 2015.
I am informed that the final report is at an advanced stage of completion and will serve before the Commission in December 2017 for approval. The report will thereafter be submitted to me for consideration. After considering the report and its recommendations, I will thereafter be in a position to indicate when or what form of legislation ought to be introduced in the National Assembly.
As the Honourable Member should be aware, in terms of Sec 4(2)(b) of the Prevention and Combatting of Trafficking in Persons Act (Act 7 of 2013), any person who concludes a forced marriage with another person for the purposes of the exploitation of that person in any form or manner is guilty of an offence.