WHEN gogo Lenah Manamela (85) married her husband David, they promised to be together forever.
Although they had a traditional ceremony, they always planned to have a white wedding.
But five years ago, madala, who only ever paid lobola, died.
However, Lenah never forgot about the white wedding.
On Saturday, residents of Majaneng, near Hammanskraal in Tshwane, gathered for the gogo to have a symbolic white wedding with her grandson, also named David, who stood in for her late husband. The wedding started at the bride’s home in Majaneng and last week, a ceremony was held at madala David’s parental home in Nokaneng, Mpumalanga.
As the pastor prayed, Lenah’s grandson took out the ring David asked his daughter Leah to buy before he died in 2010.
Leah was the one who first called a meeting with representatives from both her parents’ families, where they all agreed a wedding was the perfect way to honour her late father. The invitations sent out last month told guests they were being invited to a birthday party.
Everyone was surprised when Lenah appeared in a wedding dress and a cow was even slaughtered. Old women dressed in traditional clothing ululated with excitement. The gogo told Daily Sun she had a perfect day.
“I loved my husband so much. I felt deep inside I should make this wish shared by both of us come true,” she said.
