THE RECOGNITION OF SAME-SEX UNIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA by HENRIET DE RU submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTERS OF LAW at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: PROF J HEATON NOVEMBER 2009 PREFACE I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to my supervisor, Prof J Heaton. Without her guidance, expertise and patience this study would not have been possible. LIST OF CONTENTS Page SUMMARY ................................................................................................................. 1 KEY TERMS .............................................................................................................. 2 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Background .................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Research Problem and Purpose of Study ....................................................... 6 1.3 Outline of Chapters ......................................................................................... 6 1.4 Research Method ........................................................................................... 8 2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ............................................................................ 10 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Same-Sex Unions and the Concept of Marriage that was received into South Africa .................................................................................................. 10 2.2.1 Canon Law and the Church-State/State-Church Relationship ............ 11 2.2.2 Roman-Dutch Law and the Secularisation of Marriage Law ............... 13 2.3 The Church-State/State-Church Relationship and Totalitarianism within the Apartheid Regime ................................................................................... 15 2.4 Gay and Lesbian Movements and the Political Coalition Building that led to the Inclusion of Sexual Orientation in the Bill of Rights ................................. 17 2.5 Inclusion of Sexual Orientation in the Interim Constitution ............................. 20 2.5.1 Introduction ....................................................................................... 20 2.5.2 The Various Views on the Inclusion of Sexual Orientation ................. 21 2.6 The Retention of the Sexual Orientation Clause in the Final Constitution ..... 23 2.7 Post-Constitutional Developments ................................................................ 26 2.7.1 Legislative Developments .................................................................. 26 2.7.2 Judicial Developments ....................................................................... 27 2.7.2.1 The So-Called ‘Sodomy Judgement’ .................................... 28 2.7.2.2 Extension of Rights to Same-Sex Life Partners who have Undertaken a Contractual Reciprocal Duty of Support ........ 32 2.7.2.3 The Recognition of Same-Gendered Families ...................... 37 2.7.2.4 Acquiring Parental Authority in a Same-Sex Life Partnership .......................................................................... 39 2.7.2.5 Affording Marriage Rights to Same-Sex Couples ................ 43 2.8 Summary and Conclusion ............................................................................. 46 3 THE CIVIL UNION ACT 17 OF 2006 ................................................................... 48 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 48 3.2 The Legislative Process that led to the Enactment of the Civil Union Act ...... 48 3.2.1 The Recommendations made by the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) to Extend Marriage Rights to Same-Sex Couples ............................................................................................. 48 3.2.2 Draft Civil Union Bill ........................................................................... 49 3.3 General Descriptions of the Civil Union Act ................................................... 51 3.3.1 Definition and Formulation of a Civil Union ........................................ 51 3.3.2 Requirements for the Solemnisation and Registration of a Civil Union ................................................................................................. 52 3.3.2.1 General ............................................................................... 52 3.3.2.2 The Prescribed Formalities .................................................. 53 3.3.2.3 Registration of a Civil Union ................................................. 56 3.4 Legal Consequences of a Civil Union ........................................................... 57 3.4.1 Invariable Legal Consequences of a Civil Union ................................ 57 3.4.2 Variable Consequences of a Civil Union ............................................ 58 3.4.2.1 Matrimonial Property Regime ............................................... 58 3.4.2.2 The Dissolution of a Civil Union ........................................... 60 3.5 Particular Problems Arising from the Civil Union Act ..................................... 63 3.5.1 Ex Officio Marriage Officers not Compelled to Solemnise Same- Sex Civil Unions ............................................................................... 63 3.5.1.1 Anomalies Between Marriage Officers created by the Marriage Act and Civil Union Act .......................................... 63 3.5.1.2 Religious Accommodation versus Sexual Orientation .......... 65 3.5.1.3 To Summarise...................................................................... 74 3.5.2 Marriageable Age .............................................................................. 75 3.5.2.1 Is the Blanket Ban in Conflict with the Best Interests of Minor Children? .................................................................... 76 3.5.2.2 A Violation of Minors’ Constitutional Rights to Equality and Dignity .................................................................................. 78 3.5.2.3 Additional Arguments ........................................................... 80 3.5.2.4 To Summarise...................................................................... 81 3.5.3 The Patrimonial Consequences of a Same-Sex Civil Union ............... 82 3.5.3.1 Proposals to Reform the Lex Domicilii Matrimonii Rule ........ 83 3.5.3.2 To Summarise...................................................................... 87 3.6 The Acquisition of Parental Responsibilities and Rights by Same-Sex Civil Union Partners .............................................................................................. 87 3.6.1 Female Civil Unions ........................................................................... 88 3.6.2 Male Civil Union Partners .................................................................. 90 3.7 Exclusion of Gay Identity in African Communities from the Ambit of the Civil Union Act .............................................................................................. 91 3.8 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 92 4 RECOGNITION AND LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF SAME-SEX LIFE PARTNERSHIPS ................................................................................................. 94 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 94 4.2 Protection of Life Partners by means of the Ordinary Rules of the Law ......... 95 4.2.1 General.............................................................................................. 95 4.2.2 Life Partnership Contracts ................................................................. 96 4.2.3 Contracts of Universal Partnership .................................................... 97 4.2.4 Financial Consequences of Same-Sex Life Partnerships ................. 100 4.2.4.1 Property Acquired Prior to and During the Subsistence of the Same-Sex Life Partnership .......................................... 100 4.2.4.2 The Common Home ........................................................... 101 4.2.4.3 Joint Bank Account ............................................................ 104 4.2.4.4 Maintenance ...................................................................... 104 4.2.5 Agency ............................................................................................ 105 4.2.6 Will .................................................................................................. 105 4.3 The Legal Recognition which has been Afforded to Same-Sex Life Partnerships which have not been Solemnised and Registered under the Civil Union Act ............................................................................................ 106 4.3.1 General............................................................................................ 106 4.3.2 Constitutional Jurisprudence ............................................................ 106 4.3.3 Statutory Recognition and Protection .............................................. 110 4.3.4 Continued Protection and Recognition under Legislation and Judicial Developments after the Enactment of the Civil Union Act 2006 ................................................................................................ 111 4.3.4.1 General .............................................................................