KGABALATSANE, South Africa – During an Easter Sunday mass wedding ceremony in April 2023, Priest Vusi Ndala entered into a polygamous union with his first wife, Philisiwe, and new bride, Noko, under the International Pentecostal Holiness Church.
In a groundbreaking South Africa Constitutional Court ruling on Thursday, judges declared that men should have the right to take their wives’ surnames. The court struck down the existing law, stating that the restriction amounted to unfair gender discrimination and served “no legitimate government purpose.”
The ruling immediately suspends the outdated legislation and opens the door for parliament to make necessary amendments. Legal experts say this historic decision strengthens equality by giving men and women the same freedom in choosing surnames after marriage.
This South Africa Constitutional Court ruling is widely seen as a progressive victory for gender rights, reflecting the country’s commitment to dismantling discriminatory practices and promoting fairness in family law.
