South African Republic is the first African country to legalize gay marriages.

On November, 14 2006 the majority of MPs voted for the adoption of this law, in accordance with which gay and civil marriages are recognized legal. 230 parliamentarians voted for the draft, 41 MPs opposed it, while 3 abstained from voting.

The law draft was worked out and introduced for parliamentary consideration following 2005 Supreme Court decision, pronouncing the current norms discriminating against gays and lesbians and violating the Constitution of the country.