Civil Union Act [No. 17 of 2006]


Government Gazette
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Vol. 497 Cape Town 17 November 2006 No. 29441
THE PRESIDENCY No. 1208 30 November 2006
It is hereby notified that the President has assented to the following Act, which is hereby published for general information:–
No. 17 of 2006: Civil Union Act, 2006.


2 No. 29111 GOVERNMENT G A % I T I E 7 0 NOVEMBER ZOM
Art No. 17. 20M
ACT To provide for the solemnisation of civil unions, by way of either a marriage or civil partnership; the legal conqequences of civil unions; and to provide for matters incidental thereto.
PREAMBLE
WHEREAS section 9(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. 1996. provides that everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and henefi t of the law;
AND WHEREAS section 9 3 ) of the Constitution provides that the state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race. gender. sex, pregnancy, marital status. ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation. age. disahility. religion, conscience. belief. culture. language arid birth;
AND WHEREAS section 10 of the Constitution provides that everyone has inherent dignity atid the right to have their dignity respected and protected;
AND WHEREAS section 1 S( 11 ofthe Constitution provides that everyone has the riglit to freedom of conscience. relipion. thought. belief and opinion;
AND WHEREAS the rights i n the B i l l ol Rights may he limited only in terms o f law of general application to the extent that the limitation is reasonable and justitiable i n an open and democratic sncicty based on human dignity. equality and freedom;
AND NOIING tliat the tamily law dispensation as it existed after the commencement of the Conslitution did riot provide for same-sex couples to enjoy the status and the benefits coupled with tlie rcsponsihilttiec that marriage accords to oppositesex couples.
E IT THEREFORE ENA