8-year-old boy marries 61-year-old

In African proverb they say, "It's not news when you get bitten by a dog, but it becomes the headline when the reverse happens." This indeed is the exact scenario in Tshwane, South Africa where an 8-year-old minor
exchanged marital vows with a 61-year-old mother of five. The event which was witnessed by hundreds, steered the dust when two very unlikely parties walked down the aisle to say "I do!".

When asked, the eight-year-old Groom and school boy said:

"I told my mother that I wanted to get married because I really did want to. I chose her because I love her and I’m happy that I married her – but I will go to school and study hard. When I’m older I will marry a lady my own age.

Sanele Masilela (Groom), tied the knot with Helen Shabangu, who is already married with five children. The Groom claimed he has been told by their dead ancestors to get married, and for fear of retribution and calamity, the family members organised the wedding. This jaw-opening ceremony shocked the neighbors and the world at large but the family has defended it proudly.

Sanele's 46 year old mum said:

"It was just a ritual to avert the calamity of the gods and it is not legally binding. Sanele is named after his grandfather, who has never had a white wedding before he died so asked Sanele to get married in order to fulfill his desires. He chose Helen because he loves her".

"By doing this......(she continues).."we made the ancestors happy. If we hadn't done what my son had asked then something bad would have happened in the family. I didn't have a problem with it because I know it's what the ancestors wanted and it would make them happy."

With the wedding done and over, what moral effect will this have on the family and the community?

Marrying a child, a minor, old enough to be your grand child to fulfill the gods/ancestors wish, will be seen by child activists the world over as abuse, western world as a taboo and indeed weird.