Hassam v Jacobs NO and Others, an important case in South African law, was heard in the Constitutional Court on February 19, 2009, with judgment handed down on July 15.

Facts

The question was whether or not the benefits provided by the Intestate Succession Act) and the Maintenance Act accrue to surviving spouses of polygynous Muslim marriages. The objective of the legislation is to ensure that widows receive at least a child's share of their spouse's estates instead of being left precariously dependant on family benevolence.

The Cape High Court found the Intestate Succession Act, in discriminating on grounds of gender and religion and marital status, to be inconsistent with the Constitution. The word "spouse" in the Act should be interpreted henceforth to include partners in polygynous Muslim marriages, while "survivor" in the Maintenance Act should be read to include surviving partners of polygynous Muslim marriages.

Judgment

In the Constitutional Court, however, "spouse" was found not to be reasonably capable of being understood to include more than one partner in the context of a polygynous Muslim marriage. The words "or spouses," therefore, are henceforth to be read in after each use of the word "spouse" in the Act.

Statutes

• Intestate Succession Act 81 of 1987.
• Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act 27 of 1990.