South Africans react to court ruling allowing husbands to take wives’ surnames

On 11 September 2025, the Constitutional Court ruled that husbands can now legally take their wives’ surnames, something that, until now, was simply not possible under the law. It might sound like a small change, just a matter of paperwork, but it touches something much deeper: how society defines family, identity, and partnership.

For decades, the default assumption in our country mirrored an old patriarchal tradition,  a woman marries, she takes her husband’s name, and that’s the end of the story. Men who wanted to honour their partner by carrying her surname, or couples who wanted to share a double-barrelled name, had no legal pathway to do so. The law itself said no. With this ruling, the highest court has acknowledged what many Couples have long believed: marriage is a union of equals, and names should reflect choice, not custom.

South Africa has been moving in this direction for years, breaking down legal and cultural barriers that reinforce gender inequality. Allowing men to take their wives’ surnames is more than symbolic. It is about dignity, freedom, and the right to define love and family on your own terms.

Of course, it will take time for systems and traditions to catch up. But this moment is a reminder: equality is not just about sweeping reforms, it’s also about the everyday details,  even the name you carry.

Fellow South African's had a lot to say this about this law and while Parliament has 24 months to amend the law formally, the reactions to the law have been... lets rather say...Interesting.

Issued on Glamour (South Africa) by Sindeka Mandoyi | https://www.glamour.co.za/wellness/love-relationships/south-africans-react-to-court-ruling-allowing-husbands-to-take-wives-surnames-507b072c-8cb3-496e-92de-3c8f5282d731