Marriage vows could be set to change

This is if Carling Black Label’s #NoExcuse campaign to change wedding vows gets the nod from the Department of Home Affairs.

Speaking in an interview with Alex News at the launch of the campaign ahead of the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence and Femicide, Carling brand director Arnie Rust said the #NoExcuse campaign was hoping to raise 10 million signatures to compel the department to change marriage vows.

The campaign seeks to amend the vows from ‘to love and protect’ to include ‘and never abuse’ as part of the tools to fight gender-based violence in the country.

Rust said they had raised 11 signatures just at the launch alone and were keeping their fingers crossed for more signatures to start streaming in before the anticipated handover date to the department on December 10.

“This will be a major win for women that enter into long-term relationships and will also be a win for the entire society as well. We are going to go out there to our NPO partners on the ground to actively drum up support for the 10 million signatures,” Rust said.

Nomsa Papale of Lifeline who hails from Tsutsumani in Alexandra said she fully supported the idea of changing the marriage vows to include the element of ‘never to abuse’.

“I think this is a great step forward in the fight against gender-based violence as it would compel men to actually vow never to abuse their wives in their relationship of husband and wife.

“Once those vows are broken, the woman can stand up and say, ‘Do you still remember what you promised in front of priest?’ That you will love and protect me and never abuse,” Papale told Alex News at the launch.