Polygamy and feasts are on display at a large-scale wedding in South Africa
Bride Evelyn Sekgalakane shines as she walks the aisle hand in hand with Shirley Molala, who is about to become her “sister wife” during a massive wedding celebration in a South African church, encouraging polygamy.
Behind them is the groom Lesiba Molala, who married another wife at a meticulous ceremony at the International Pentecostal Holy Church (IPHC) southwest of Johannesburg.
The polygamous bride party is a loud, long and joyful moment of 55 marriages that took place there on Easter Sunday.
Only seven of the unions welcomed an extra wife to the family – but everyone would like to do so in the future.
“He is God [who approves] Polygamy, “repeated in the packed auditorium. Polygamy is a practice of having multiple spouses at the same time.
Shirley, the second wife of Mr. Molala, who has been married to him for 25 years, told me before the big day: “I love polygamy because it is rooted in biblical teaching” – referring to passages from the Old Testament of the Bible.
Evelyn (R) told BBC [Nhlanhla Phillips]
After that, his first wife picked her, who died, and the third wife joined the family – leaving the congregation after the leadership.
The 48-year-old explained that it made it easier to see the upcoming wife as a sister and friend as a process that was added to the addition of another spouse.
“us [first three wives] It's time to the point where we wear matching clothes. So I learned this from the family of Molala, which is why I was able to do the same for Evelyn. ”
Before the official starts the marriage ceremony – each involving the exchange of rings, but without verbal vows – the joyous congregation gathered outside the auditorium around noon, with riots of color and noise.
The speakers yelled the church songs with cheers from thousands of kind-hearted people – some of them wore church blue and white uniforms, while others performed best.
Over the next five hours, the bride party arrived at the big names, trying to surpass each other: a large bridesmaid wearing a different electric lemon green and another groom wearing a gucci ciplad.
Church officials checked the gates in advance to ensure that everyone present was wearing proper clothes – women who were allowed to, naked weapons or pants, must also cover the overhead and open jackets for men.
The church has a strict moral code – during ordinary service, men and women sit separately in the auditorium and dates are not allowed.
“When I joined the church, I only learned polygamy and was taught that dating a woman was not allowed. So because I realized that a woman wasn't enough for me, I felt that instead of cheating, I got another wife,” Lesiba Molala, 67, told the BBC.
These large-scale weddings are annually located at the church’s large headquarters in the country town of Zuurbekom, on September and December Easter.
After the hustle and bustle of each wedding, the group walked on a red carpet to take pictures.
Then it was time for the church leader Leonard Frederick G Modise to arrive-his entrance almost stole the show.
He was called “the bedspread” and along with his family he was attracted by a parade band, horse parade and a range of luxury cars, including the Midnight Sapphire Rolls-Royce.
As the sun begins to set, it’s time to start the official plan – as each entourage enters the auditorium, slowly walk along the white aisle.
I went back to catch up with the Molala trio before their turn. Evelyn was excited about her clothes and everyone laughed: “I tell you, you won't know me!”
The service lasts until 22:00 and ends with blessings from the new couple and their other spouses, and the celebration is long.
Although such feasts are often associated with weddings here-though not as large as this scale, multiple wedding ceremonies are unusual even in countries as diverse and multicultural as South Africa.
The same is true for polygamy. While polygamy (the marriage of a man to several women) is allowed in South Africa, the relationship is usually registered as a habitual marriage and is not celebrated in churches.
However, IPHC is one of the independent churches in Africa, as long as marriage is also registered with the Ministry of Interior of the country.
According to the 2022 census, more than 85% of South Africans are identified as Christians, followed by 8%, who say they practiced the traditional African belief.
Several churches with large congregations mix two systems of faith, such as IPHC, although mainstream Protestant and Catholic churches remain the largest denominations.
For the IPHC, polygamy was taught and encouraged and from the inception of Soweto in 1962 to today’s “as the church grows” among the 3.1 million churches in southern Africa, Mpho Makwana told the BBC.
Six years after joining the church, Mr. Morala married his first wife in 1991. She is also a member – an important factor for those who want to pair with their spouse. The church explicitly prohibits marriage to outsiders.
Nine years later, Mr. Morala and his wife sat down to discuss the expansion of the family. After a church-wide search, the couple settled in Shirley, then 23.
“I think it’s very important [because I was] “It was noticed among the many women in the church,” she said.
Evelyn was also selected after the church initiation process that began in February. She admits it took her a while to warm up the idea of joining the polygamy alliance, although Shirley's acceptance made it easier for her.
The 44-year-old grew up in church but later left, had three children, and then returned to Cheok a few years ago.
Molala married Evelyn, and informally adopted her children, increasing his offspring total to 13.
Each of his families lives in a separate house – although Evelyn will join his home in the early stages of his marriage.
Of the 55 marriages held at IPHC on Easter Sunday, 7 were polygamy [Nhlanhla Phillips]
Polygamy is practiced in some South African culture and does divide people in the country. In recent years, some reality shows have gained insight into the lives of plural families and have sparked debates about whether they are still relevant.
Professor Musa Xulu, a religious expert at the South African Committee on Cultural, Religious and Language Rights Community Rights, said that in the unions that were destroyed in the initial stages of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, families are often encountered, which have suffered from South Africa’s destruction.
He told the BBC that the situation remains stable, although it is still “a big problem”.
Mr Markwana said the IPHC has addressed the issue – measures taken about a decade ago to better protect couples and polygamous unions after a family experience avoiding HIV/AIDS, which is a “eye-opener” for church leaders.
Those who plan to get married must first be tested for HIV.
“You can't keep going without going through that process…so there's no surprises coming.”
The couple must tell each other about their results, decide whether to continue, and then the church keeps records.
This “100% transparency” also reduces the number of divorces that are often caused when cheating, he said.
Professor Xulu said that although churches like IPHC adopted an “eclectic Christian attitude”, i.e., “semi-Christian, semi-African”, they did have doctrinal reasons for their traditions and “internal dispute settlement mechanisms.”
“They will help the troubled families,” he said.
Once the proposal is accepted, the IPHC will participate heavily in the review process. This takes several months and is characterized by three pre-marital rituals.
During this time, couples “through a spiritual process to make sure they know their commitments”, Mr Markwana said.
Most couples are relatively strangers before making formal proposals – just like Freddy Letsoalo, 35, and Rendani Maemu, 31.
They also married Zuurbekom during Easter – their first marriage.
Mr Letsoalo said he first found his bride-to-be at a friend's wedding about a decade ago – also celebrated at one of the massive marriage ceremonies.
He told the BBC they “didn't say or do anything” after their first meeting.
“It’s love at first sight, but remember, we know…the teachings of our church.”
Rendani Maemu told the BBC that when she grew up in church, she always knew she might be “first wife” [Nhlanhla Phillips]
Although the two later became Facebook friends, their interaction was limited to birthday wishes – until December 2024, Mr. Letusalo brought the wheels into the movement, first reminding his family and then the church’s leadership of his intentions.
“I didn't know he was interested in me. When I realized… I was excited. I always dreamed about my wedding day,” a Ms. Meimu, who blushed and grew up in the church, told me before the wedding.
Her dream came true, she really looked excited, and then with nine bridesmaids wearing crystal-fixed gowns, headdresses and a bride train for several meters.
Although the couple will focus on their new lives at the moment, they are willing to embrace polygamy if there are the right opportunities in the future.
“I know my husband may want to get married,” said the new Mrs. Letsalo.
“I believe in polygamy.”
For many South Africans, this view may be controversial.
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