hello at last

Hello all

My apologies for taking so incredibly long to post but, between Paula and I, we just couldn't figure out how to (!).

Phil seemed convinced that you all might actually be interested in what goes down here at the Court, so, as my first post here's an update on what's happening with the Civil Unions Bill:

"Now Civil Union Bill decision is Mbeki’s

The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) passed the controversial Civil Union Bill yesterday, paving the way for President Thabo Mbeki to sign the measure into law. The legislation, intended to afford gay and lesbian couples the same legal status as married heteros exuals, has drawn fierce criticism from opposition parties as well as religious groups. ‘By approving this legislation, this house is at odds with the wishes of a majority of South Africans who have overwhelmingly rejected it,’ said IFP MP Jeanette Vilakazi. According to a Mail & Guardian Online report, it now remains to be seen if Mbeki will approve the Bill, particularly given that submissions made during extensive public hearings indicated overwhelming public discontent over the proposed law.Full Mail & Guardian Online report"

Last year in December the Constitutional Court ruled that the exclusion of same sex partners from being able to be married was unconstitutional. Considering the expected wide-spread opposition to such a ruling, however, they did not make the order with immediate effect. Instead, they issued a so-called "suspended order of invalidity", meaning that Parliament had one year to come up with an Act dealing with this, failing which, and as from 2 December 2006, same-sex partners would automatically be able to marry.

Parliament has hence been on a whirlwind process of trying to get the new Act into force in time. As most of you probably know, the last step in the whole legislative process is the President's signature. Considering that the ANC has pushed this Bill through Parliament, it is unlikely that he will reserve his signature.

Updates to follow....