Deputy President Paul Mashatile on Saturday paid lobolo in a glamorous traditional affair attended by several high-profile politicians.
Mashatile, 66, sent a delegation to his bride Humile Mjongile’s home in Leondale, east of Johannesburg, for lobolo negotiations. This was followed by a huge celebration attended by friends of the bride and groom.
Among the guests were businessman Tokyo Sexwale and his wife Natacha da Silva, former environmental affairs minister Nomvula Mokonyane, former Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina and former ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza.
Humile, 37, is the widow of former ANC Western Cape secretary Songezo Mjongile who died in September 2020 from colon cancer. He and Mashatile were close friends, with Mashatile one of the speakers at his funeral.
Mashatile's wife, Ellen, died in July 2020 from Covid.
The wedding celebrations are expected to continue on Sunday at Mashatile’s home in Kelvin when the bride will be officially handed over to complete the process.
Speaking on behalf of the families, businessman and former MP Nkenke Kekana, who was part of the delegation sent by Mashatile, told the Sunday Times the event was a private ceremony at which the families were still trying to get to know each other.
"The wedding will still come, but what was happening today was a private affair between the families. Tomorrow, we need to report back to the Mashatiles on how things went today," said Kekana, who co-founded IT firm Business Connexion.
The celebration was a glitzy affair.
Humile wore a beautiful traditional navy blue dress with glittering blue and white beads that had a modern twist.
There were two seating areas — one inside the yard for Mashatile's delegation and a heavily draped white marquee outside the yard for guests.
Inside the marquee, white Wimbledon chairs surrounded rectangular tables with flowers and gold glittering chandeliers as centrepieces.
There were two open bars. One was strictly for gin and sparkling wine, the other for beers, ciders and soft drinks.
As guests waited for the programme to begin, the bride was brought in by an army of women clad in traditional Setswana attire, singing wedding songs.
She sang along and danced as she was presented to guests. However, her performance was brief, as protection services whisked her away.
A longtime friend of the bride who attended the wedding said she was happy to see her friend finally happy.
“She really took her husband’s passing hard and for a while, we didn’t see her laugh. But ever since Paul came into her life, she has returned to the lovely, bubbly person we’ve always known.”
Another guest said she was happy that Mashatile and Humile had managed to find love again after the deaths of their spouses.
“They have both been through so much. Paul lost his wife and Humile also lost her husband so for them to decide to take such a big step after suffering such losses is actually a good thing because they'll understand each other better. They've been through the same pain."
A neighbour who lives a few houses from the bride’s house, Maria Moeng, said she was not invited but said she was happy Humile has found happiness.
“Lobolo is usually a small intimate affair for the family so I think that is why they didn’t extend the invitation to neighbours.
She described Humile as a "bubbly young woman" who loved people.
“She always greets and is very respectful and doesn’t behave like a person who hangs with big people like politicians. She’s a very down-to-earth person and I'm not surprised that she captured the heart of the deputy president, there’s that friendliness about her that makes her likeable,” Moeng said.
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