Zindzi does it again

05 March 2013 - 02:14 By POPPY LOUW and LEONIE WAGNER
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Zindzi Mandela-Hlongwane and her groom, Molapo Motlhajwa, celebrated their marriage in Ikageng, North West, yesterday
Zindzi Mandela-Hlongwane and her groom, Molapo Motlhajwa, celebrated their marriage in Ikageng, North West, yesterday

Nelson Mandela's daughter, Zindziswa Mandela-Hlongwane, was married a second time yesterday in Potchefstroom, North West.

"Zindzi", 52, and MK veteran Molapo Motlhajwa, 37, signed their nuptial agreement at a Home Affairs office before heading to their reception in a 50m-by-10m marquee erected on a street in Ikageng township.

Motlhajwa, in a high-collar white shirt and black trousers, strolled around a black Jeep Grand Cherokee to open the door for his bride, dressed in a silver-grey gown and matching fascinator.

About 300 community members greeted them with screaming.

Friends of the couple say they went public with their relationship at the ANC conference in Mangaung, in December.

A source close to the couple told The Times yesterday: "They have been secretly dating for a while now. They just wanted people to know they were in love."

About 150 guests in the black-and-white-decorated marquee listening to speeches made by friends and family.

They were treated to a starter of fried fish and the main course included chicken pieces or meat stew, served with pumpkin and rice and accompanied by sweet red wine.

Four friends of the bride said, in chorus, to the groom: "You'd better take care of her because she is part of our family and will always be a part of our family."

A relative of the groom said news of whom he was to marry had come as a surprise.

"We only heard this Saturday that he was getting married to Nelson Mandela's daughter. We knew all along that he was getting married but had no idea of who our new makoti (bride) would be."

The couple have five children between them, four are Mandela-Hlongwane's and Motlhajwa has an eight-year-old.

Mandela-Hlongwane - the second daughter of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela - was previously married to businessman Zweli Hlongwane.

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