In a disturbingly bizarre event, a nine-year-old schoolboy became one of the world's youngest grooms to marry his 62-year-old wife - for the second time, UK MailOnline reported. After claiming that he had been told by his dead ancestors to wed, the boy was aided by his family to get married last year for the first time.
Appearing a little taller in last year's silver tuxedo, Sanele Masilela clutched the hand of Helen Shabangu in Ximhungwe in Mpumalanga, South Africa, as they repeated their vows a year later in front of around 100 guests, NDTV reported. As the married mother-of-five shared a piece of cake, a toast and even a kiss with her young groom, residents, including her 66-year-old long-term husband Alfred Shabangu looked on.
The boy, from nearby Tshwane, allegedly claimed that his dead ancestors wanted him to tie the knot with bride Helen. Amazingly, his parents and the bride in question agreed and arranged for the "happy day." The ceremony was repeated this year since Sanele wouldn't rest until the couple followed through with South African traditions to make their marriage official.
Despite stunned villagers branding the act as "sickening," the boy's family defended the union, claiming it was just a ritual and not legally binding.
Sanele's 47-year-old mum, Patience Masilela said, "Sanele was fine and he was happy about the ceremony last year and it's what he wanted - he was not shy. He was just happy to get married, very excited and was not embarrassed about it. So much so he wanted to do it again."
"After the wedding last year, people keep asking them question like will they live together, sleep together, have babies but I keep telling them that after the wedding everything went back to normal nothing changed. Sanele moved to Venda not long after the wedding because he wanted to learn a new language, but they are very close," she added.
Helen, who works at a recycling center, added, "I didn't have a problem with it because I know it's what the ancestors wanted and it would make them happy." Meanwhile, young groom Sanele said he hoped he would have a proper wedding to a woman his own age when he was older. "I told my mother that I wanted to get married because I really did want to," he said. "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."
Helen's husband of 30 years also attended both wedding ceremonies along with the couple's five children. "My kids and I are happy because we don't have a problem with her marrying the boy - and I don't care what other people say," he said.
