There are some traditions that just don’t need to happen anymore, and this is probably one of them! Saneie Masilela, a nine-year-old boy, just got married for the second time to his 62-year-old wife Helen Shabangu. The two were already married last year but according to tradition, they needed to be wed in both the boy’s and the woman’s South African villages.
There were over 100 guests at the ceremony, and one of them was Helen’s 66-year-old husband Alfred Shabangu, as well as Helen’s five children, who are all between 28-38 years old! And despite how totally bizarre this all is, it’s not what you think it is! Saneie was told by his dead ancestors that he needed to get married, and Helen was happy to oblige. The young boy explained:
“I told my mother that I wanted to get married because I really did want to. I’m happy that I married Helen – but I will go to school and study hard.
When I’m older I will marry a lady my own age. I chose Helen because I love her and, although we don’t live together all the time, we meet at the dumping site where my mother works regularly.”
The young boy’s mother reiterated this sentiment, saying:
