Comments on: PE HOME AFFAIRS AGAIN REFUSES TO MARRY A GAY COUPLE

By: David

David — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Nothing has changed, nothing will change. Personal appologies from government officials have no meaning and certainly dont carry any weight with their staff. The department of home affairs is arrogantly bias and this will not change. The law of the country means little if anything to them and no higher official of Sate will do anything about it either.

By: Joice

Joice — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Blatant discrimination!
This should not be allowed in our day and age. Wonder what would happen if a marriage officer decided to reject a marriage based on his own beliefs about interracial marriage? Refusing tax payers their right to a free social service! Marriage officers should remember that it is the tax payers money that pays their salaries, in other words they work for the public and should therefor have the public’s interest at heart. Nobody likes their jobs 100% all the time but we all still have to do our jobs. If ones private views and hang-ups prevent one from doing ones job in a specific post you shouldn’t be working there and if the department has to call upon a different marriage officer every time there is a same-sex marriage why not just keep one marriage officer who does both. Such discriminative officers are making themselves redundant.
(Just a member of the public who doesn’t like to see others constitutional rights trampled on just like she wouldn’t like her own disregarded)

By: Joice

Joice — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to David. MP Manny de Freitas said that the current situation "is unacceptable". He said that he will be asking the minister of Home Affairs questions in Parliament on the issue, including requesting statistics on which Home Affairs offices do not have Civil Union marriage officers, as required by law.

"I will keep [the de Lange and Steyn case] for a statement which I will make in the House and to the Minister of Home Affairs, citing this example and asking why this is still allowed to continue,? said De Freitas.

By: Dewald

Dewald — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to David. Lets hope that the Delange/Steyn couples persistence will force the matter as they were not scared off into getting married privately by the negative experience.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Why are marriage officers with personal views and hangups even employed if it renders them unable to do their jobs?
The way I see it These officer’s salaries are paid by tax payers money to render a public service. None of us like our jobs but sometimes we just have to do it, comply with the the laws of the constitution already. Same-sex marriage has been accepted by the constitution since 2006 and in 2013 the department of home affairs in Port Elizabeth is still “sorry” for not getting their act together. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE INDEED!
Each home affairs department is by law obliged to have at least one marriage officer who conducts same-sex marriages, What is wrong with the P.E. branch!!! We don’t need another apology from Mr. Mapoepa, just get it right and keep it right for now and always. You can discuss your hang-ups with the ladies from the milk-tart club at church, but when you are at work and dealing with public please do it professionally by just doing your job – Klaar!!!