The recent Constitutional Court judgment allowing men to legally assume their wives' surnames undermines African cultures, traditions and spirituality as it affects family lineage which usually follows the paternal line.
This is the view of expert Prof Gugu Mazibuko after the judgment on Thursday, which stated that the South African law, by allowing only women to amend their surname, committed unfair gender discrimination in contravention of international law principles.
The case first came before the Free State High Court when two couples challenged the provisions of the Birth and Deaths Registration Act.