Experiences of Premarital Counselling Among African Christians in South Africa

Gugulethu Ndlovu, Experiences of Premarital Counselling Among African Christians in South Africa

Winner - North-West University VYT local competition (2024)

“Marriage is outdated and irrelevant”. “It’s easier to leave marriage now”. “We’re marrying for all the wrong reasons”. These are just some of the common responses from social media users when asked why today’s marriages are short lived when compared to those of previous generations.

There’s statistical evidence that South Africans are marrying less than they did ten years ago and are currently divorcing more than they are marrying. Whatever the reasons may be for these short-lived marriages, there’s an obvious need to safeguard and strengthen marriages against the threat of divorce. One proven way to do this is through premarital counselling.

My study investigates premarital counselling in black South African churches since clergy are the predominant service providers of premarital counselling. The results are still underway but they promise to improve premarital counselling and therefore increase marriage stability amongst South Africa’s majority population.