WHITE WEDDING FOR ELDERLY COUPLE, 27 YEARS LATER

MBABANE - They’ve been tried, tested and approved!

Some things stand the test of time, and for Gogo Saraphina (62) and Mkhulu Petros Simelane (93), love is one of them. Their love has stood the test of time and they are a shining example that love knows no bounds and it is unconditional. They met in Manzini many years ago and a relationship blossomed. The couple’s wish was to go down the aisle but due to financial challenges, they could not afford a white wedding. However, they went the traditional route of kuteka and the couple made a commitment to spend all their tomorrows in 1993.
Now, 27 years later, they are still holding it together, in sickness and in health. The couple have been faithful and held on to each other even after Mkhulu Simelane suffered a stroke.In the past weekend, their dream came true when their children and grandchildren organised a white wedding for the couple in a church. Although Mkhulu Simelane has a speech impairment, his better half, Gogo Simelane was of great assistance in sharing their love story.

How they met

“I was working at some household in Manzini as a nanny when I met mkhulu. It turned out that the woman I was working for was mkhulu’s relative,” she relayed. Gogo Simelane elaborated that mkhulu started professing his love to her. However, she pointed out that this bothered her because of the age difference of 31 years. With time, she recounted that she started falling in love with his character and how mkhulu treated her. She said she finally agreed to pursue a relationship with mkhulu. Gogo Simelane narrated that she communicated to her better half and requested that he does the honourable thing and marry her after he asked her to join him at his home in Hlatikhulu. “I had a previous relationship with a man and it did not work out because of dishonesty. I was determined never to walk down that road ever again,” the newly wedded bride said. So she told her man that she would not just cohabit with him without being made a wife. Gogo Simelane alluded to that mkhulu proved most naysayers wrong as he did the honourable thing in 1995 through kuteka.

Love that defies all odds

Although they became husband and wife, the humble bride narrated that they experienced much scrutiny from people across all fronts. She articulated that people would say distasteful things about her and that she would not be faithful to her old husband. “I would not take what those people said. I knew I loved and respected my husband and I aimed at doing just that,” Gogo Simelane said. She reiterated that she would also go to Johannesburg to purchase stock which she later sold to customers in the country. The industrious bride said she did this because her husband was older and could not get a job to take care of them as a family. “Even then, people would always talk and suggest that I would go and never return from South Africa,” she quipped. Gogo Simelane said the people had implied that she would get a man in the neighbouring country and would not return. However, she mentioned that she was faithful to her husband even when she was not with him. When questioned what made her realise that she could spend the rest of her life with mkhulu, gogo responded that with each day that passed, their relationship was more solid and secure. She added that they experienced challenges in their marriage like most couples did but divorce was never an option, let alone a thought.

Lessons on marriage

When asked to advise young couples who were in courtship and preparing to get married, she said it was important that a couple should get to know each other before getting married.
“Forever is a long time to spend with someone who is not your relative. So it is imperative that you get to know this person,” the profound woman advised. She reiterated that it was also important for couples to celebrate special days together to make them memorable. She said a surprise dinner or a night date was important to keep the fire burning in a relationship.
Gogo Simelane said as old as she was, she recalled so many memorable days when she and mkhulu would make special surprises for each other. When questioned if there was anything she would do differently after so many years in marriage, she confidently said there was none.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: