South Africa Court Allows Men to Take Wife's Surname

A court in South Africa has said a man can take his wife's surname or have a double-barrelled name.

The country's Births and Deaths Registration Act had required a husband to apply to the government to take his wife's name.

Even then, there was no guarantee it would happen.

A request was denied in many cases.

The new rule says stopping a man from taking his spouse's family name was gender discrimination.

It says a man has the right to take the last name of his wife.

There was mixed reaction on social media.

Many people said it was a sign of greater equality.

They pointed out that the previous law was passed in colonial times.

They also say the law continues South Africa's progressiveness.

The country was the first in Africa to legalize same-sex marriage.

However, other people said the new rule goes against the country's traditions.

One person said it would "destroy the norms and values" of indigenous citizens.