A Pretoria man got married to his long time sweetheart in hospital after their wedding plans were initially halted by Covid-19 imposed lockdown. Then his fiancée later got involved in a horrific car crash.
But Siso Mzwandile Zwane, 33, of Winterveld north of Pretoria could not be held back any further. On October 23, while the love of her Mpho Nicoline Mabaso, 25, was still hospitalised the Sebokeng Hospital, Zwane took a gigantic step in a man's life and married her.
The couple's initial wedding was April 26, then the lockdown to fight off the spread of the coronavirus was announced late in March by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
On October 19, during the period the lockdown restrictions were being relaxed, Mabaso, a final year nursing student at the Vaal University of Technology in Vanderbiljpark, got involved in a horrific accident while travelling in a minibus taxi. She was hospitalised with a broken right leg.
All looked gloomy for the couple who had been dating since 2012 and have a three year-old son together. Zwane, a soldier based at Klipdrift base in Potchefstroom, then spoke to his pastor about his plan to marry Mabaso while she was being nursed at the hospital.
Zwane also arranged with Mabaso's mother to complete the plans for the hospital wedding.
Before the lockdown, Mabaso had already bought wedding dresses for their planned traditional and white ceremonies.
“After Mpho’s accident, I felt a lot of pain. We were busy planning [the wedding]. I decided to surge ahead with the plan and called her mother. We spoke with the nurses and the ward matron to help us arrange the wedding,” said Zwane.
“I was happy. We were happy. There was a lot of happiness. I couldn’t wait for her to change her surname to mine; to be one family.
“Never give up on love if you truly love someone," Zwane added.
The new Mrs Zwane expressed her pride in her husband, and hope for a brighter future.
"I was so nervous, and still traumatised from the accident. That (wedding ceremony) was the sweetest thing of my life.Even though it didn't happen the way we wanted it to be, I am very happy all the same," she said.
"I am proud of my husband. His idea for the hospital wedding showed his love and caring heart."
Mabaso added that as a future nurse, the whole experience, including the support of the nursing staff at Sebokeng Hospital, prepared her for the tasks and responsibilities ahead after her graduation.
Her mother Masello Mfumba said her new son-in-law was an amazing man.
"After the accident, Mpho’s husband spoke to me and said 'Mama, mosadi o ke a morata (I love this woman); the accident happened and I have accepted. May I marry her, right there at the hospital'," Mfumba said.
“God used the circumstances she was in for the better, for her to finally get married, and on a hospital bed around which she would be working as a nurse soon. That day I was happy and emotional.”
The day's officiating pastor, Sereto Paul Govuzela of the Saint John Apostolic Faith Mission Church in Sharpeville, said: "The event taught me how people can be committed to each other even when circumstances are not ideal. I learned big things from the young couple. I won't forget the glow on the young lady's face on the day. The young man was speechless, but visibly happy.”
Mpho has since been transferred to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria where she is still recovering from her injuries.
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