ConCourt rules men can assume wives’ surnames [SOUND]

# The Constitutional Court has made a historic ruling that men can now legally adopt their wives’ surnames, declaring parts of Section 26 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act unconstitutional. The case, brought by two couples, argued discrimination on gender. Justice Leona Theron said the norm was rooted in colonial patriarchy placing women in inferior positions. She gave Parliament 24-months to amend the law to align with constitutional equality: