I do, I do, I do, I do

South African man weds four women at the same time to be faithful and save money!

A 44-year South African man last week married his four "well-behaved" wives, pledging his undying and equal love "because marrying all four was better than committing to one woman and then cheating on her."

And marrying them all on the same day saved costs, he said.

According to the Sunday Times, the lavish white wedding in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands took place on a sports field in a giant marquee decorated in pink, blue, silver and gold.

Milton Mbhele, manager of a small and impoverished municipality, said he spent about 150,000 Rands (approx. Rs 9 lakh) on the marriage.

The groom, in a white linen suit, and his four brides, in white princess gowns and tiaras, arrived together in a white Mercedes-Benz ML 430 stretch limo.

Flanked on each side by two brides, the beaming groom sat in a velvet chair on an elevated stage in front of about 500 seated guests.

The brides, each trailing two bridesmaids, were each honoured with their own multi-tiered wedding cake. The groom was supported by eight best men.

Mbhele, the father of 10 seven with his four brides and three from previous relationships said the unusually large wedding party was because of "culture" and economic reasons.

"I am a proud Zulu and polygamy is a Zulu practice. I do not see myself as any different from anybody else.

"It doesn't help to have one wife and have 30 girlfriends that drain you so much you end up with no money."
He said he loved his wives "equally" and there was "good competition" among them.

"They compete in everything, but it is healthy competition. From cleaning the home to respecting me, they are all so well-behaved. I am always a happy man."

Mbhele paid 10 cows for the hand of his first wife, who he met in 2001. Four years later he fell in love with and paid eight cows for his second wife.

He started dating the girl who became his third wife in 2007 and paid seven cows for her hand.

The hand of his last wife, who he met last year, cost him seven cows.

Mbhele has built homes for all four women.

"There's no problem. We get along well. We visit each other often," he said.

Eight cows were slaughtered yesterday at the groom's home to mark the traditional leg of the ceremony.