The Minister of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation, says the Legal Capacity of Married Persons Act and Sexual Offences Act are not intended to split families, but to maintain family peace.

Mrs. ‘Mathabiso Lepono was addressing chiefs and community councilors from community councils of Siloe, Mashaleng, Thaba-Mokhele, Motlejoeng, Teke and Khoelenya in Mohale’s hoek at a one-day workshop on SADC protocol on gender and development held in the district.

She said, "Such laws protect both men and women, but discourages acts of gender violence and advocates for respect and negotiations among married couples on matters concerning families".

Mrs. Lepono stated that the Legal Capacity of Married Persons Act has repealed marital power, which a husband had over a person and property of his wife.

She warned that the Act has also removed restrictions, the marital power placed on the legal capacity in such that a wife can enter into contract, sue or be sued, register immovable property in her name, act as trustee of an estate, act as a director of a company and bind herself as surety.

Besides, she said, spouses married in community of property have equal capacity to dispose of the assets of the joint estate and administer the joint estate.

Participants, however, said the laws are good and beneficial to the families as now husbands and wives would agree on any activity involving their family, unlike when men used to decide alone.

With these, Mr. Mpiti Thabane said the load that was over men is removed as both partners shall share the responsibilities. He appealed for review of the Inheritance Act not to discriminate against women.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mahlomola Makhube noted that the laws calls for the community leaders to share the knowledge with all sectors of the community including youth, initiates, teachers, men, women and the elderly.

Purpose of the workshop was to introduce the Gender office and raise awareness to the community leaders on gender issues so that they could disseminate the information to the public.

SOURCE: LENA 16/08/2007