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*SA Marriage Officers Now Compelled To Conduct Homosexual Marriages* *Follow Pindula on WhatsApp for daily new updates* https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va84dngJP21B2nWeyM3v?yw South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday passed a bill that prevents marriage officers from refusing to conduct same-sex marriages. According to the Civil Union Amendment Bill, the Home Affairs Minister must ensure a marriage officer is available to solemnise a civil union at every office. ---------- Latest itel S24 available on Pindula: 128GB storage, 4GB RAM $119 USD WhatsApp: +263715068543 Calls: 0772464000 Buy Online: https://www.pindula.co.zw/market/itel-s24-128gb-22-20240426142756795795/?s=wanews ---------- Earlier, the Centre for Human Rights welcomed the passing of the bill by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). Spokesperson Thiruna Naidoo said the bill repealed Section 6 of the Civil Union Act 17 of 2006 (CUA), which provided that a marriage officer may, in writing, inform the Minister of Home Affairs that he or she objects to solemnising a civil union between persons of the same sex on the ground of conscience, religion, and belief. Naidoo added that this provision had long been a barrier to the legal recognition of same-sex couples by marriage officers in the Department of Home Affairs. Said Naidoo: > Under the Civil Union Amendment Bill, a transitional period of 24 months is given [for] the Department of Home Affairs to train those officials that had previously been granted an exemption by the minister. > During this transitional period, a marriage officer, other than those granted exemption, must be available to solemnise a civil union at every Department of Home Affairs office to ensure that same-sex couples are no longer turned away. Naidoo further said the bill was a positive step toward eliminating existing differentiation between marriages and civil union partnerships, reducing discrimination against same-sex relationships and achieving equality for same-sex couples in South Africa. The development comes as the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis said in a film released on Wednesday that homosexuals should be protected by civil union laws. *More: News24.com* _If you found this article useful_ *Please support Pindula by forwarding to friends and groups*
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