A Nhlangano taxi driver over the weekend married two wives within 24 hours.
The incident, which came as a shock to some people, was described as normal by traditionalists. Makhundu Colani Simelane (34) married Ayanda Gamedze (31), and Nontando Mkhonto (27). He married Gamedze on Saturday morning through kuteka and married Mkhonto yesterday morning the same way.
The weddings took place at Kumhlanga under Shiselweni II Inkhundla, Mahlalini Umphakatsi, outside Nhlangano town. Simelane stated that this was not new in his family, as there was polygamy in his home; his grandfather also had more than one wife. He said he owns a public transport kombi, which is how he generates income. He stated that he had engaged his wives on the issue and they agreed that he could marry both of them on the same weekend.
He said he had first spoken to Gamedze, who is the senior wife, about wanting to marry her and her sister wife. He said Gamedze was the one treated as a wife, as she was the senior girlfriend.
He said he told Gamedze about Mkhonto and she did not have any problem with her. He said his wives have a very good relationship, even though they sometimes fight. He said his wives are united and do things together, stating that when they do fight, other people are usually the cause.
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He said he has urged them not to allow people to separate them.
“I managed to marry both of them because I wanted to. For something to proceed successfully, you have to tell yourself that you will do it. I managed to marry them both by first making sure that they get along. I, as a man, also apologise to them by saying sorry, which is a word many men fail to say. We apologise in our relationship,” he said.
He added that, prior to the marriage, he made sure he budgeted by buying the items that would be needed. He said he bought two goats, ensuring that all the things needed were bought in pairs. He said this was so that things could be fair.
“I feel like a man and I am happy that what I had wished for has happened. None of them has children with me yet, but we are still going to have our own in both relationships. I have my own children from previous relationships and they also have their own,” he said.
Meanwhile, the senior wife Gamedze stated that she accepted the type of marriage and how things were done by her husband. She said her husband approached her and asked to marry a second wife.
She said since he had asked and she did not learn of the relationship through other means, she understood where he was coming from. She said the second wife was introduced to her.
“I then told her how we live and how things should be done. She respected me since she found me in the relationship and she understands that I am her senior,” she said. She added that she has been dating Simelane for about a year and a half. She said Mkhonto was still new in the relationship, as they had dated for less than a year.
Traditionalist Indvuna Lutfwacula Fakudze stated that there was nothing wrong with what Simelane did. He said since Simelane did not hide anything from the two women, he had prepared for the marriages with both wives.
“It is rare but legal. We have seen people marry the same man on the same day. There was a scenario where two women went for a sleepover and ended up being married and entering the cattle byre together. They were introduced to each other when they were being smeared with libovu.
“There is nothing wrong here because even in the Bible, Jacob did something nearly the same,” he said.
