Muhammad Buckus and Kyle Pillay have been together for about five years. They live openly as a same-sex couple. A year ago, they exchanged wedding vows at a traditional Hindu ceremony. But they have been unable to formalise their partnership, because Home Affairs officials in Richards Bay kept turning them away.
“We have been given excuse after excuse and it seems to us that the problem is that we are a same-sex couple,” says Buckus.
On the eve of moving from Pietermaritzburg to Richards Bay, they went to the temple with a few close friends and committed themselves to each other.
“We knew we also wanted to get married legally,” says Buckus. “We didn’t for a moment think it would be a problem.”
He and PIllay have been to their local office about five times since September last year. Buckus recounted the excuses he’d been given by various officials and forwarded Whatsapp messages and voice-notes he has sent to various Home Affairs managers in the province.
Initially, they were told there was no marriage officer. Then they were given an email address for one but she responded that there were no dates available until the following year.
“We went there to find out what dates were available and we were then told that officials there were not trained to do same sex marriages.
“We then contacted the manager, who told us that was not so, but they didn’t have a marriage register or certificates,” said Buckus.
He said they were told to “try” other offices in the province but were given no guarantees.
Then came the Covid-19 lockdown and the office closed. But after it reopened they were again given the excuse that it didn’t have the necessary documents.
“On one of our visits, an official tipped us off that they would never perform the marriage there ‘because they are Christians who have staunch beliefs but they will never tell you that to your faces’,” said Buckus.
On Thursday last week, a day after GroundUp sent questions to the department, Buckus said he received a call and was told an appointment was available on 8 October.
While thrilled at this development, he said he and Pillay still felt they had been victimised.
Home Affairs spokesperson Siya Qoza said the Richards Bay office could not assist the couple earlier this year as it did not have the necessary documents to solemnize same sex marriages.
“The couple was advised that the offices in Umgeni, Ethekwini and Ulundi would be able to assist them. The couple advised the officials in Richards Bay that they would wait until that office was able to assist them,” said Qoza.
This article was written by Tania Broughton and originally appeared on GroundUp.
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If you’re attending the wedding of a couple of alcohol-lovers, why not treat them to their favourite thing? It’s easy to buy the bride’s favourite wine, but that’s also boring. Instead, opt for something that will last and actually benefit their lives in some way.
From wine to whiskey, gin to beer, there are a host of accessories designed to improve your drinking experience. Give your newlyweds the gift of a good drink with one of these items:
Eetrite Wine Chiller & Pouring Rod – R249 from Yuppiechef
Champagne flutes (set of four) – R260 from Woolworths
Cocktail shaker – R229 from Takealot
Bohemia Crystal Quadro Whiskey Decanter 850ml – R999 from Lavish’d
White terrazo coaster (set of four) – R249 from Superbalist
Vinturi Red Wine Aerator – R749 from Yuppichef
DIY Homemade Gin Kit Gift Box – R519 from Yuppiechef
Drinking tower game – R299 from Typo
Picture: Pexels
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One of the world’s favourite celebrity couples has a classic Hollywood love story. John Legend and Chrissy Teigen did not expect to find love on September 14, 2006, but they did, and they’ve been together ever since.
The pair met on set back in 2006. John legend was shooting a music video for the song ‘Stereo’ and Chrissy was playing his love interest. Here is how that turned into a lifetime of music, laughter, and love.
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Chrissy Teigen was 20 years when she met John, then 28. Sparks flew the minute they met on set, and the pair even spent the evening together in Legend’s hotel room afterwards. They continued to stay in contact with one another but never defined the relationship.
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After a year of chatting and getting to know each other, they took their first trip to Lake Como in Italy in 2007. By this time they had already decided that they were a couple but were secretly dating. In 2008 the duo appeared for the first time as a couple at the 50th annual Grammy awards.
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In 2011, Legend proposed while on vacation in the Maldives. Upon their arrival, he took her out and had organized a Christmas-themed dinner and hid the ring in a silver serving dome under a pile of arugula.
They tied the knot on September 10, 2013, at the New York courthouse. Their big wedding was in Lake Como, Italy on September 14.
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Chrissy walked down the aisle with her father, wearing a stunning princess-style Vera Wang gown.
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For the reception, she wore a mermaid gown with a micro-pleated bodice and sheared organza full skirt. The third dress was to party all night. She wore another mermaid dress in red.
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Kim Kardashian was amongst the celebrities that attended the wedding, Stevie Wonder performed for the couple.
They had a four-tiered naked carrot cake layered with cream cheese frosting.
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In 2015, Chrissy and John announced their first pregnancy, Chrissy shared the news on Instagram in a beautiful post. Baby Luna was born in 2016 on April 14. In November 2017 they announced their second pregnancy and this time it was a boy – on May 17, 2018 Miles was born.
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Chrissy and John were expecting another baby this year. They announced the third pregnancy in August 2020 but sadly they lost the baby on September 30, 2020.
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Choosing your wedding venues can be a tough task, especially in a country like South Africa that boasts a myriad of beautiful locations, from city to sea.
If you’re wanting to make things a little bit easier, why not pick a restaurant venue? This way, you know the food you’ll be feasting on come wedding day will be at a high standard.
Here are a few of our favourite restaurants in the country with wedding packages of note.
Babylonstoren in Franschhoek, Western Cape
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Babylonstoren is an authentic, versatile venue with one of the country’s best preserved Cape Dutch farmyards, offering a historic yet contemporary farm stay. Couples can pick from an outdoor wedding under the majestic oaks alongside a stream, or at the bottom of the garden in the House of Shadows.
All three of their rustic, chic and stylish venues are available for the reception, and comfortably seats 100 people. In the Old Cellar you can enjoy a family-style feast, with a surprise dessert station in the White Studio. The Wheat Barn is just the place to dance the night away. For smaller weddings, the Studio package is the ideal choice for intimate family-style feasts.
Read more about their wedding package HERE.
Hazendal in Stellenbosch, Western Cape
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Hazendal in the Stellenbosch winelands offers breathtaking settings, catering for both intimate ceremonies and large celebrations. Take your vows in Hazendal’s architecturally designed Pavilion that floats above water, framed by the magnificent views of the Bottelary Hills and Simonsberg.
With the one of the best culinary teams in the Stellenbosch Winelands, your wedding guests will be able to relish in gourmet-style food and award-winning estate wines. Host your wedding for a glamorous and luxurious celebration in fine-dining Avant-Garde or the Grand Hall at the Conference Centre. For couples wanting a more informal outdoor style, Hazendal’s heritage Kraal will be the perfect fit.
Read more about their wedding packages HERE.
Canelands Beach Club in Salt Rock, Durban
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With direct access to the beach for that perfect beach wedding, Canelands on the northern coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal is the ideal venue for a formal or informal style wedding.
The Restaurant can seat up to 50 guests for a private brunch, lunch or dinner and up to 100 guests on the pool deck and grass verge, together with the restaurant for a cocktail style wedding overlooking the beautiful Indian Ocean. The adjacent lounge area makes an ideal venue for your ceremony or cocktails on arrival.
Read more about their wedding packages HERE.
Ferguson’s 5th Floor in Sandton, Johannesburg
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Celebrate your nuptials up above on this rooftop restaurant in the heart of Sandton. Your ceremony and reception can be held in the same space, which comfortably fits 150 people seated and 200 guests cocktail style.
Menu’s are tailored to each guest, and couples can pick between three-course set menus, cocktails and floating dinner options, as well as harvest table buffets.
Read their wedding packages HERE.
The Living Room in Maboneng, Johannesburg
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Situated in the vibrant precinct of Maboneng, the Living Room is a unique blend of the natural and the urban. It offers panoramic city views, making the perfect backdrop for your dream rooftop event.
View their wedding package HERE.
Picture: Instagram / Babylonstoren