A proposal by the South African government to legalize polyandry – when a woman has more than one husband at the same time – has led to howls of protest from conservative quarters.
South Africa has one of the world’s most liberal constitutions, embracing same-sex marriages for all and polygamy for men.
In polyandry, the woman often initiates the relationships, and invites the husbands to join her union. Some pay the bride price, others opt to contribute to her livelihood.
However, she has the power to remove a co-husband if she believes he is destabilizing her other relationships.
