Latest news with #InternationalPentecostalHolinessChurch
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Polygamy and pageantry on display at a mass wedding in South Africa
The bride, Evelyn Sekgalakane, sparkled in white as she walked down the aisle hand-in-hand with Shirley Molala, who was about to become her "sister wife" at a mass wedding celebration at a South African church that encourages polygamy. Behind them came the groom Lesiba Molala, who was marrying another wife at the elaborate ceremony at the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) south-west of Johannesburg. The polygamous bridal party was among 55 marriages that took place there on Easter Sunday - a loud, long and joyous occasion. Only seven of the unions were welcoming an extra wife to the family - but all were open to doing so in the future. "He is a God [who approves] of polygamy," rang out repeatedly across the packed auditorium. Shirley, who is Mr Molala's second wife and has been married to him for 25 years, told me ahead of the big day: "I love polygamy because it is rooted in Biblical teaching" - a reference to passages in the Old Testament of the Bible. She was handpicked by his first wife, who has since died, while a third wife had also joined the family - leaving in the wake of a leadership row that split the congregation. The 48-year-old explained that as the process of adding another spouse had started spiritually, it made it easier to regard the incoming wife as a sister and friend. "We [first three wives] got along to a point where we'd wear matching clothes. So I learnt this from the Molala family and that's why I was able to do the same for Evelyn." Before the official start of the marriage ceremonies - which each involved an exchange of rings but no spoken vows - the jubilant congregation gathered outside the auditorium at around noon in a riot of colour and noise. Loudspeakers blaring out church songs competed with the cheers of thousands of well-wishers - some of whom were dressed in the church's blue-and-white uniforms, while others sported their Sunday best. Over the next five hours bridal parties arrived to great fanfare and tried to outdo one another: one large contingent of bridesmaids was dressed in different shades of electric lime green, another featured a Gucci-clad groomsman. Beforehand church officials had checked the outfits at the gate to make sure everyone in attendance was suitably dressed - no skimpy outfits, bare arms or trousers allowed for women, who also had to cover their heads, with jackets prescribed for men. The church has a strict moral code - the sexes sit separately inside the auditorium during ordinary services and dating is not allowed. "I only learned about polygamy when I joined the church and was taught that simply dating a woman was not allowed. So because I realised that one woman would not be enough for me, I felt that rather than cheat, let me get another wife," Lesiba Molala, 67, told the BBC. These mass weddings take place three times a year at the church's grand headquarters in the small rural town of Zuurbekom - at Easter, in September and December. After each wedding party's raucous arrival was over, the group walked a red carpet to take photos. Then it was time for the church's leader, Leonard Frederick G Modise, to arrive - and his entrance almost stole the show. Referred to as "the comforter", he was ushered in - along with his family - by a marching band, horse parade and a series of luxury vehicles, among them a midnight sapphire Rolls Royce. As the sun began to set, it was time for the official programme to begin - with each entourage entering the auditorium to make their way slowly down the white-carpeted aisle. I caught up with the Molala trio before their turn. Evelyn was excited and all smiles about her dress: "I told you, you would not recognise me!" The service, which went on until 22:00, ended with a blessing from Mr Modise for the new couples and their other spouses - with the festivities going on long into the night. While such pageantry is often associated with weddings here - albeit not on such a grand scale – multiple marriage ceremonies are unusual, even in a country as diverse and multicultural as South Africa. So too is the inclusion of polygamous unions. While polygyny - the marriage of a man to several women - is allowed in South Africa, such relationships are usually registered as customary marriages and are not celebrated in church. However, the IPHC is one of what is known as an African independent church, which is allowed to officiate them - as long as the marriages are also registered with the country's home affairs department. According to the 2022 census, more than 85% of South Africans identified as Christian, followed by 8%, who said they practised traditional African beliefs. Several churches with large congregations mix both belief systems - like the IPHC - though mainstream Protestant and Catholic churches remain the biggest denominations. For the IPHC, polygamy has been taught and encouraged and has "evolved with the church" from its inception in Soweto in 1962 to a congregation today of 3.1 million across southern Africa, senior church official Mpho Makwana told the BBC. Mr Molala married his first wife in 1991, six years after joining the church. She was also a member - an important factor for those looking to take a spouse. The church explicitly forbids marriages to outsiders. Nine years later, Mr Molala and his wife sat down to discuss the expansion of the family. After a church-wide search, the couple settled on Shirley who was then 23. "I felt important [because I was] noticed among the many women in the church," she said. Evelyn too was selected after a church-initiated process that began in February. She admitted it took a while for her to warm to the idea of joining a polygamous union, though Shirley's receptive attitude made it easier for her. The 44-year-old had grown up in the church but later left, going on to have three children, before returning to the fold a few years ago. With his marriage to Evelyn, Mr Molala has informally adopted her children, bringing the total number of his offspring to 13. Each of his families live in separate houses - although Evelyn will join him at his home for the early stages of the marriage. Polygamy, traditionally practised in some South African cultures, does divide people in the country. In recent years several reality shows have given an insight into life in plural families - and sparked debate about whether they are still relevant. Prof Musa Xulu, a religious expert with South Africa's Cultural, Religious and Linguistics Rights Communities Rights Commission, said it was common to come across families in such unions who had been devastated in the initial stages of the HIV/Aids pandemic, which has ravaged South Africa. The situation had stabilised, though it was still "a big problem", he told the BBC. Mr Makwana said the IPHC had addressed this head on - putting in place measures about a decade ago to better protect couples and polygamous unions from HIV/Aids after one family's experience, which had been an "eye-opener" for the church's leadership. Those intending to get married must first get tested for HIV. "You can't proceed without going through that process… so there are no surprises ahead," he said. The couple must tell each other their results, decide whether to continue and then the church keeps a record on file. This "100% transparency" also reduced the number of divorces that had often resulted when deception came to light, he said. Prof Xulu said churches like the IPHC, while having an "eclectic approach to Christianity" that was "half-Christian, half-African", did have doctrinal justifications for their traditions as well as "internal dispute-resolution mechanisms". "They will assist families who are undergoing distress," he said. The IPHC is heavily involved in the vetting process once a proposal has been accepted. It takes several months and is marked by three pre-nuptial ceremonies. During this time, couples were "taken through a spiritual process of ensuring they know what they are committing to", Mr Makwana said. Most couples are relative strangers before the formal proposal is made - as was the case for Freddy Letsoalo, 35, and 31-year-old Rendani Maemu. They also tied the knot in Zuurbekom over Easter - both marrying for the first time. Mr Letsoalo said he first spotted his bride-to-be at a friend's wedding nearly a decade ago - also celebrated at one of the mass marriage ceremonies. But they "didn't talk or do anything else" after their initial meeting, he told the BBC. "It was love at first sight but remember, we know… the teachings of our church." While the two would later become Facebook friends, their interactions were restricted to birthday wishes - that was until December 2024 when Mr Letsoalo set the wheels in motion, alerting first his family and then the church's leadership of his intentions. "I wasn't aware that he was interested in me. When I became aware… I was excited. I've always dreamt of my wedding day," a blushing Ms Maemu, who was raised in the church, told me before the nuptials. Her dream came true and she did look resplendent before going down the aisle along with nine bridesmaids in a crystal-encrusted gown, tiara and a bridal train several metres long. While the couple are currently focused on their new life together, both are willing to embrace polygamy should the right opportunity present itself in the future. "I know there's a chance that my husband will want to enter into a polygamous marriage," said the new Mrs Letsoalo. "I believe in polygamy." A view that may be controversial for many South Africans. South Africa polyamory: When three's not a crowd in a relationship Outcry over South Africa's multiple husbands proposal One man, four wives: South Africa's hit reality TV show How royal divorce papers have shaken the Zulu kingdom Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
04-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Inside a South African mass wedding: Polygamy and pageantry on display at a the IPHC church
The bride, Evelyn Sekgalakane, sparkled in white as she walked down the aisle hand-in-hand with Shirley Molala, who was about to become her "sister wife" at a mass wedding celebration at a South African church that encourages them came the groom Lesiba Molala, who was marrying another wife at the elaborate ceremony at the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) south-west of polygamous bridal party was among 55 marriages that took place there on Easter Sunday - a loud, long and joyous seven of the unions were welcoming an extra wife to the family - but all were open to doing so in the future."He is a God [who approves] of polygamy," rang out repeatedly across the packed who is Mr Molala's second wife and has been married to him for 25 years, told me ahead of the big day: "I love polygamy because it is rooted in Biblical teaching" - a reference to passages in the Old Testament of the Bible. She was handpicked by his first wife, who has since died, while a third wife had also joined the family - leaving in the wake of a leadership row that split the 48-year-old explained that as the process of adding another spouse had started spiritually, it made it easier to regard the incoming wife as a sister and friend."We [first three wives] got along to a point where we'd wear matching clothes. So I learnt this from the Molala family and that's why I was able to do the same for Evelyn."Before the official start of the marriage ceremonies - which each involved an exchange of rings but no spoken vows - the jubilant congregation gathered outside the auditorium at around noon in a riot of colour and blaring out church songs competed with the cheers of thousands of well-wishers - some of whom were dressed in the church's blue-and-white uniforms, while others sported their Sunday the next five hours bridal parties arrived to great fanfare and tried to outdo one another: one large contingent of bridesmaids was dressed in different shades of electric lime green, another featured a Gucci-clad church officials had checked the outfits at the gate to make sure everyone in attendance was suitably dressed - no skimpy outfits, bare arms or trousers allowed for women, who also had to cover their heads, with jackets prescribed for church has a strict moral code - the sexes sit separately inside the auditorium during ordinary services and dating is not allowed."I only learned about polygamy when I joined the church and was taught that simply dating a woman was not allowed. So because I realised that one woman would not be enough for me, I felt that rather than cheat, let me get another wife," Lesiba Molala, 67, told the mass weddings take place three times a year at the church's grand headquarters in the small rural town of Zuurbekom - at Easter, in September and each wedding party's raucous arrival was over, the group walked a red carpet to take it was time for the church's leader, Leonard Frederick G Modise, to arrive - and his entrance almost stole the to as "the comforter", he was ushered in - along with his family - by a marching band, horse parade and a series of luxury vehicles, among them a midnight sapphire Rolls Royce. As the sun began to set, it was time for the official programme to begin - with each entourage entering the auditorium to make their way slowly down the white-carpeted aisle.I caught up with the Molala trio before their turn. Evelyn was excited and all smiles about her dress: "I told you, you would not recognise me!"The service, which went on until 22:00, ended with a blessing from Mr Modise for the new couples and their other spouses - with the festivities going on long into the such pageantry is often associated with weddings here - albeit not on such a grand scale – multiple marriage ceremonies are unusual, even in a country as diverse and multicultural as South too is the inclusion of polygamous unions. While polygyny - the marriage of a man to several women - is allowed in South Africa, such relationships are usually registered as customary marriages and are not celebrated in the IPHC is one of what is known as an African independent church, which is allowed to officiate them - as long as the marriages are also registered with the country's home affairs to the 2022 census, more than 85% of South Africans identified as Christian, followed by 8%, who said they practised traditional African churches with large congregations mix both belief systems - like the IPHC - though mainstream Protestant and Catholic churches remain the biggest the IPHC, polygamy has been taught and encouraged and has "evolved with the church" from its inception in Soweto in 1962 to a congregation today of 3.1 million across southern Africa, senior church official Mpho Makwana told the Molala married his first wife in 1991, six years after joining the church. She was also a member - an important factor for those looking to take a spouse. The church explicitly forbids marriages to years later, Mr Molala and his wife sat down to discuss the expansion of the family. After a church-wide search, the couple settled on Shirley who was then 23."I felt important [because I was] noticed among the many women in the church," she too was selected after a church-initiated process that began in February. She admitted it took a while for her to warm to the idea of joining a polygamous union, though Shirley's receptive attitude made it easier for 44-year-old had grown up in the church but later left, going on to have three children, before returning to the fold a few years his marriage to Evelyn, Mr Molala has informally adopted her children, bringing the total number of his offspring to of his families live in separate houses - although Evelyn will join him at his home for the early stages of the marriage. Polygamy, traditionally practised in some South African cultures, does divide people in the country. In recent years several reality shows have given an insight into life in plural families - and sparked debate about whether they are still Musa Xulu, a religious expert with South Africa's Cultural, Religious and Linguistics Rights Communities Rights Commission, said it was common to come across families in such unions who had been devastated in the initial stages of the HIV/Aids pandemic, which has ravaged South situation had stabilised, though it was still "a big problem", he told the Makwana said the IPHC had addressed this head on - putting in place measures about a decade ago to better protect couples and polygamous unions from HIV/Aids after one family's experience, which had been an "eye-opener" for the church's intending to get married must first get tested for HIV."You can't proceed without going through that process… so there are no surprises ahead," he couple must tell each other their results, decide whether to continue and then the church keeps a record on "100% transparency" also reduced the number of divorces that had often resulted when deception came to light, he Xulu said churches like the IPHC, while having an "eclectic approach to Christianity" that was "half-Christian, half-African", did have doctrinal justifications for their traditions as well as "internal dispute-resolution mechanisms"."They will assist families who are undergoing distress," he IPHC is heavily involved in the vetting process once a proposal has been accepted. It takes several months and is marked by three pre-nuptial this time, couples were "taken through a spiritual process of ensuring they know what they are committing to", Mr Makwana couples are relative strangers before the formal proposal is made - as was the case for Freddy Letsoalo, 35, and 31-year-old Rendani also tied the knot in Zuurbekom over Easter - both marrying for the first Letsoalo said he first spotted his bride-to-be at a friend's wedding nearly a decade ago - also celebrated at one of the mass marriage they "didn't talk or do anything else" after their initial meeting, he told the BBC."It was love at first sight but remember, we know… the teachings of our church." While the two would later become Facebook friends, their interactions were restricted to birthday wishes - that was until December 2024 when Mr Letsoalo set the wheels in motion, alerting first his family and then the church's leadership of his intentions."I wasn't aware that he was interested in me. When I became aware… I was excited. I've always dreamt of my wedding day," a blushing Ms Maemu, who was raised in the church, told me before the dream came true and she did look resplendent before going down the aisle along with nine bridesmaids in a crystal-encrusted gown, tiara and a bridal train several metres the couple are currently focused on their new life together, both are willing to embrace polygamy should the right opportunity present itself in the future."I know there's a chance that my husband will want to enter into a polygamous marriage," said the new Mrs Letsoalo."I believe in polygamy."A view that may be controversial for many South Africans. You may also be interested in: South Africa polyamory: When three's not a crowd in a relationshipOutcry over South Africa's multiple husbands proposalOne man, four wives: South Africa's hit reality TV showHow royal divorce papers have shaken the Zulu kingdom Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
The Citizen
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Saints and style: Malusi Gigaba and his fiancée make a statement at IPHC Church
From the political podium to the pews of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, Malusi Gigaba and his fiancée are serving faith-filled fashion moments that are nothing short of iconic. The power couple radiated devotion, designer flair, and a deep spiritual connection with the International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC) as they attended this year's mass wedding in style. A divine walk in style and spirit Malusi Gigaba, once a dominant figure in South Africa's political theatre and currently a member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC, is now turning heads for an entirely different reason. Known as the 'Minister of Drip' due to his fashionable attire, he maintained this fashion title alongside his graceful partner, fiancée Nomfundo Fakudze. Steeped in Tradition The couple attended the mass wedding ceremony, where more than 3 000 couples tied the knot during the Easter weekend. Some of the traditions around the ceremony allow women to propose to men, while men can marry up to five wives. Couples are given two years to prepare for the ceremony, the man must find a place to live for his future family, and the property should be listed in both spouses' names. Couples' counselling is mandatory before the wedding and has also been embraced by previously married church members, contributing to low divorce rates thanks to ongoing marital support. Picture: Nigel Sibanda The former Home Affairs Minister has found spiritual refuge this weekend at the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC), a church as rich in history as it is in tradition. But what caught the public eye isn't just their devotion — it's their unapologetically stylish presence at the mass wedding service. Fashion-forward and spiritually grounded, the couple is redefining what it means to dress for church in 2025. ALSO READ :Dr Brian addresses 'malicious' rumours about his breakup with Minnie Dlamini Inside the IPHC: Tradition, authority, and worship Picture: Nigel Sibanda Founded in 1912 by the late Comforter Frederick Samuel Modise, the IPHC is one of the largest and most structured religious movements in South Africa, boasting over three million members. Silo, Zuurbekom, near Westonaria in Gauteng, South Africa, the church is known for its grand pilgrimages, strict doctrine, and an unshakeable sense of order and unity. Every year during the Easter weekend, millions of congregants dressed in coordinated wedding outfits flood into Kanana, regarded as a spiritual dome, to take their mass vows and get married, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in Africa. It's this spirit of discipline and presentation that Gigaba and his partner have embraced, with their unique flair. Modern Royalty in Monochrome Picture: Instagram The pair consistently draws attention with their elegant interpretation of the church's modest dress code. The IPHC typically encourages white garments, symbolising purity and unity, with men and women in structured, often uniform attire. Gigaba, a seasoned style icon, stays true to IPHC sensibilities while incorporating modern tailoring. Think crisp white mandarin-collar shirts, high-waisted pleated trousers, and clean-cut suit jackets that respect the church's dress culture while still nodding to continental fashion trends. Nomfundo elevates the uniform concept with subtle glamour, pleated midi skirts, embroidered shawls, and headwraps styled in regal symmetry, echoing African queen energy with every appearance. She favours a palette of white and soft neutrals and blue, often accessorised with pearl drop earrings and lace-detailed gloves, balancing tradition with a polished, editorial edge. While Malusi compliments her in a navy suit, peach tie, and light pocket square. ALSO READ : Look younger in just two hours — no surgery, no creams required! When uniforms become statements IPHC fashion is dress code symbolic. Uniforms distinguish rank and gender, with the women of the church donning red hats, long skirts, and blouses that reflect humility and order. Men wear suits or traditional white shirts paired with dark or light trousers. Within this framework, the Gigabas have found a way to honour the church's longstanding customs while infusing subtle elements of couture. 'They walk in like they know the assignment,' said one congregant on social media. 'It's not loud or flashy, powerful and intentional.' And it is. Their fashion choices not only align with church protocol but also send a message: reverence doesn't mean you can't be radiant. Faith, order, and personal reinvention Picture: Nigel Sibanda While the IPHC has had its share of controversies in recent years, most notably the ongoing leadership disputes following the death of Glayton Modise, it remains a cornerstone of faith and identity for millions. Their move toward visible faith and structure signals a shift from public spectacle to inner restoration, without losing the glamour that once defined them. Fashion that preaches Picture: Instagram Ultimately, Malusi Gigaba and Nomfundo serve as a reminder to netizens that one can remain rooted in tradition while effortlessly evolving in style.
