After 44 years together, Limpopo elderly couple finally say ‘I Do' in church ceremony

News24

27-05-2025

They were patient and after decades of waiting they finally walked down the aisle and celebrated their union.
A traditional Limpopo church leader, Bishop Isaac Tumishi Tebele (74), formalised his marriage in a church ceremony on May 18, 2025, celebrating 44 years of an unbroken relationship with his wife.
The ceremony marked the final step in their traditional Sepedi marriage process, which began decades ago with the payment of Lobola.
The Praktiseer community witnessed a unique celebration as the couple walked down the aisle with the Bishop wearing his church liturgical garments. While this might seem unusual to outsiders, it represents a well-established tradition in Sepedi cultural practice, particularly in the Sekhukhune area of Limpopo, home to the Bapedi nation descended from King Sekhukhune.
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The wedding took place at the couple's home in Praktiseer, outside the mining town of Burgersfort in Fetakgomo Tubatse municipality. Bishop Tebele explained, 'Like any other man, I realised my wish of getting married and fulfilled my desire.'
Though he had paid Lobola for his wife many years ago as a young man, completing the formal wedding ceremony was important to fully honor their cultural traditions.
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One of their children noted that he always knew this day would come, saying, 'I am happy for them. We are proud of them.'
The couple exchanged vows at their church, the Church of Lord Jesus Christ Son of God (CLJC), with the theme 'Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate' (Mark 10:9). A pastor officiated the ceremony, blessing their wedding rings as they made their vows.
Both the Tebele and Magabane families enthusiastically supported the ceremony.
Earlier this year, the couple sent wedding invitations to friends and relatives, though many guests only discovered on the day of the wedding that this was the completion of a marriage journey that began decades ago with the payment of Lobola.
Hundreds of community members attended the lavish reception on Sunday afternoon. A cow was slaughtered for the occasion to feed the guests who came to witness this historic event. Women ululated, men danced, and motorists honked their horns in celebration.
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The couple's four sons—Madala, Mmoledi, Mamose, and Petrus—and their daughter Mahlatse were overjoyed about their parents' wedding. Petrus expressed, 'We are very glad and satisfied they fulfilled their heart's wish.'
Neighbor Abram Moloto commented, 'I would do the same if I were in their position. It is the only way to practice our culture. For many years, I did not hear any complaint or quarrel about the two lovers.'
The celebration honored both cultural practices and religious traditions, featuring traditional meals and beverages. The community agrees that Bishop Tebele is a respected family man who deserves happiness after finally completing the full marriage process with his partner of over four decades.