Luzuko Pongoma

Luzuko Pongoma

One hundred and fifty couples were joined in holy matrimony at the International Pentecostal Holiness Church in Zuurberkom on Easter Sunday.

The couples came from some of the 300 branches of the church in southern Africa to take centre stage in front of more than 30000 congregants and friends.

Jose Nhacula and his bride Cidalia drove for six hours from Maputo in Mozambique for their special day.

Nhancula said that they had been members of the church for five years.

"After the wedding we feel different," he said.

"We have become stronger spiritually, it is like we have been born again."

The church's spokesperson Oupa Mosalakae said the preparations for the weddings included six weeks of spiritual preparation for the intended marriage partners.

"The church's Comforter Glayton Modise has a keen interest in the couples and he personally interacts with them to prepare them for a beautiful life in marriage," he said.

Mosalakae said mass weddings have been conducted at Easter and in September and December since 1962.

He said the church had "a zero percent divorce rate" and the number of weddings kept on growing - despite the present financial crisis in the world.

"Our weddings are not based on a monetary aspect," he said.

"They are based on spirituality, love and respect."

Mosalakae said that the church supported polygamy because the practice was accepted in the Bible.

The huge event was also attended by ANC president Jacob Zuma.