Cohabitation (Masihlalisane)

Cohabitation (Masihlalisane)
 Also known as a common law marriage, is not recognised as a legal relationship by South African law. There is, consequently, no law that oversees the rights of parties in a cohabitation relationship. Cohabitation usually refers to people who, regardless of gender, live together without being validly married to each other. In simple terms, men and women living together do not have the rights and duties that married couples have in law today.

 Simply because their relationship is not recognised by the law as a marriage, the rights and duties that marriage confers do not apply. it does not matter how long you have been staying together. Therefore, the perception that if you stay with your partner for a long time a common law marriage comes into life whereby you will get certain benefits is WRONG.