The Commission for Gender Equality in KwaZulu-Natal says those who negotiate lobola for a minor can face arrest.
Stats SA recently released statistics showing that more than 91 000 girl children in South Africa are either married, divorced, widows or cohabiting.
KwaZulu-Natal is leading with more than 25 000, followed by Gauteng with more than 15 000 children.
These girls range between 12 and 17 years of age.
The Commission’s Makhosazana Nxumalo says they are negotiating with traditional leaders not to officiate at the marriages of underage girls.
Nxumalo says they are also working with police to arrest people who force young children to get married.
She says, “We have been engaging with traditional leaders and religious leaders especially traditional churches that have programs that place girls in a position of being married off at a younger age or forced to get married. So we have engaged them to indicate to them that we will be taking legal action if they officiate over such marriages.”
