LGBT rights in South Africa

==Summary table==
{| class="wikitable"
!Rights
!Yes/No
!Notes 
|-
! Colspan="3" |Status 
|-
| Male same-sex sexual activity legal
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
|(Since 1998)
|-
| Female same-sex sexual activity 
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
|(Female always legal)
|-
| Equal age of consent (16)
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] 
|(Since 2007)
|-
! Colspan="3" | Discrimination Protections 
|-
| Anti-discrimination laws in employment
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (Since 1997)
|-
| Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (Since 1997)
|-
| Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech)
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (Since 1997)
|-
| Anti-discrimination laws covering gender identity
|[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
|
|-
| Ban on Anti-LGBT censorship and expression 
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (No restrictions and censorship)
|-
| LGBT [[anti-bullying legislation|anti-bullying law]] in schools
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|No]] 
|(No specific law. However the laws like Harassment act 17 of 2011 and The Child Justice act 75 of 2008 can be used)
|-
! Colspan="3" |Marriage and Family 
|-
| Same-sex marriage(s)
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] 
|(Since 2006)
|-
| Recognition of same-sex couples as de facto couples
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (Since 1999)
|-
| Recognition of same-sex couples as civil partnerships
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] 
|(Since 2006)
|-
| Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (Since 2002)
|-
| Joint adoption by same-sex couples
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (Since 2002)
|-
| Adoption by a single LGBT person
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
|
|-
| Foster care by single and Same-sex couples 
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
|
|-
| Access to [[In vitro fertilisation|IVF]] for lesbian couples
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] 
|(Since 2003)
|-
| Automatic parenthood for both spouses after birth
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
|
|-
| Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (Since 2003)
|-
| Parental leave for same-sex couples
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] 
|(Since 2019)
|-
! colspan="3" | Military Service 
|-
| LGBT people allowed to serve openly in the military
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (Since 1998)
|-
| Medical and Pension benefits for same-sex couples 
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (Since 2002)
|-
! colspan="3" | Gender Identity Rights 
|-
| Right to change legal gender
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (Since 2003, requires hormonal or surgical treatment)
|-
|Coverage for Gender Reassignment surgeries
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (since 2003, government funded in public hospitals) <ref>{{Cite news |last=Jeranji |first=Tiyese |date=15 September 2021 |title=In Depth |url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/in-depth-the-incredibly-long-wait-for-gender-affirming-surgery-for-those-who-cant-pay-20210914 |work=City Press}}</ref>
|-
| Explicit protection on grounds of intersex within attribute of sex
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (Since 2005)
|-
| Intersex minors protected from invasive surgical procedures
| [[File:X mark.svg|15px|No]]
|
|-
| [[Third gender]] option
| [[Image:Emblem-question.svg|15px|No]] 
|(as of 2021 the law is pending) <ref>{{Cite news |title= South Africa to introduce third gender option on national IDs|date=23 April 2021 |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2021/04/23/south-africa-non-binary-national-identity-number-id/}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="3" | Immigration Rights
|-
| [[Immigration equality|Immigration equality (Recognition of same-sex couples in national laws)]] 
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (Since 1999)
|-
| Recognition for sexual orientation and gender identity for asylum seekers 
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (Since 1998)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Marnell, Camminga, de gruchy |first=John, B, Thea |date=5 March 2023 |title=LGBTIQ+ migrants and asylum seekers in South Africa: major new study identifies as diverse, widespread community |url=https://theconversation.com/lgbtiq-migrants-and-asylum-seekers-in-south-africa-major-new-study-identifies-a-diverse-wide-spread-community-199227#:~:text=Since%201998%2C%20South%20Africa%20has,and%20intersex%20(LGBTI%2B)%20persons. |work=theconversation.com}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="3" | Other
|-
| [[Conversion therapy]] banned on minors
| [[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]]
| (Bill proposed in 2021)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Du Plessis |first=Charma |date=7 July 2021 |title=Children's conversion therapy up for discussion in new bill |url=https://mg.co.za/education/2021-07-07-childrens-conversion-therapy-up-for-discussion-in-new-bill/ |website=Mail & Guardian}}</ref>
|-
| [[Corrective rape]]
| [[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]]
| (The statutory offence of rape is broadly defined, but it does not specifically make mention of Corrective Rape)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koraan |first=René |date=29 June 2015 |title="Corrective Rape" |url=http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1727-37812015000500024#:~:text=The%20Criminal%20Law%20(Sexual%20Offences,malice%20against%20the%20victim's%20identification. |website=www.scielo.org.za}}</ref>
|-
| [[Men who have sex with men|MSM]]s allowed to donate blood
| [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| (Since 2014)
|}