Comments on: Presidential hopeful apologises to South Africa's gay community

By: Robert, ex-pat Brit

Robert, ex-pat Brit — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 13:36:00 +0000

George you're absolutely right about that. The Supreme Court of South Africa decides the laws of the land and are extremely difficult to overturn. It was the Supreme court by an unanimous decision decided on marriage equality. Civil unions or partnerships were not the direction they wanted to take as we did. There was far more opposition in S. Africa to marriage equality than anywhere else but its government supported the court's decision. Same-sex couples are now guaranteed the right to marry and their protections are enshrined in its written constitution (the UK is probably the only western nation that does not have any written constitution), a first ever for any western nation and a milestone. Well done S. Africa, puts us to shame.

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By: George

George — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 07:01:00 +0000

Since same-sex marriage is already the law in South Africa (and the courts have ruled that the Constitution protects and guarantees this right), it should and will remain in force. I'm no lawyer, but it seems to me that if they did try to repeal same-sex marriage, then the marriage law that was there before would automatically extend to same-sex couples by default, since that's what the Court ruled originally.One can only hope that South Africa's Constitution withstands the wrath of tyranny and bigotry. I don't think South Africans would allow something like this to happen. There's still the shadow of Apartheid to contend with.

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By: Roberto

Roberto — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:55:00 +0000

I fear that if this man were ever to become President then South Africa would go the way of Zimbabwe, straight down the toilet!Such a shame that yet again in Africa we see another corrupt, power hungry man become leader.

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