Page 7 - SAReform Book

Contents
Acknowledgements............................................. 3
1. Introduction............................................... 7
1.1 Aimsandmethodologyofthestudy........................ 7
1.2 Thebackgroundandfeaturesofthenewlaws ................ 8
1.3 Theargumentofthereport............................... 10
2. Overarchingfindings........................................ 10
2.1 Knowledgeofthelaws.................................. 11
2.2 Ill-conceived definitions of customary law events . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.3 Parallel formal and informal legal processes dealing with custom- 12 ary matters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Findingsonvarioustopics ................................... 13
3.1 Contractingacustomarymarriage ......................... 13
3.1.1 The core requirements for a valid marriage in the courts 13 and in practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.1.2 Loboloassymboliccapital.......................... 14
3.1.3 Vulnerablepositionofminorsinmarriages ............. 14
3.1.4 Thegoodandbadpracticesofthecourts ............... 14
3.1.5 Theroleofthefamilyinthecontractofmarriage ........ 15
3.1.6 The role of traditional leaders in marriage negotiation . . . . . 16
3.1.7 Broader strategies for proving the existence of customary 16 marriages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.1.8 Amixedbagofnormativerepertoires.................. 17
3.2 Registrationofacustomarymarriage....................... 17
3.2.1 Confusionoverdifferenttypesofmarriage ............. 17
3.2.2 The roles of traditional leaders and family members . . . . . . 18
3.2.3 Registration and the processual nature of customary mar- 19 riage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.2.4 Requirement of consent of both parties to register . . . . . . . . 19
3.2.5 Registeringpre-RCMAmarriages .................... 19
3.3 Regulatingpolygynousmarriages.......................... 19 3.3.1 Registration...................................... 20 3.3.2 The contract to regulate matrimonial property . . . . . . . . . . . 20
3.4 Equalityinmarriage.................................... 21
3.5 Thedissolutionofacustomarymarriage .................... 21 3.5.1 Outsidethecourts................................. 22
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