Our Story
In a world where love often hides in the smallest details, fate sometimes leaves behind the most poetic clues.
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The eldest son of the late Angeline Mkhize and Bishop Bernard Mkhize (born on the 24th of September 1940), would one day marry MaSishi. Across time and space, the eldest son of the late Angeline Yeni (who left us the morning after meeting Minenhle in person for the first time. A heaven-sent meeting and farewell) and Mr Bonginkosi Yeni (born on the very same day, the 24th of September 1944) would one day marry MaChule.
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Two men of valour, one shared birthday.
Two mothers, both named Angeline.
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Was it mere coincidence... or something greater, the quiet work of destiny, laying the foundation for a love story yet to come?
In the heart of Hammarsdale, where the rhythm of life beats with warmth and tradition, two souls were gently guided toward one another by the hand of destiny. Mthokozisi Terrence Yeni, a son raised with love and purpose, met Khonzi Gloria Chule, a woman of grace and quiet strength, in the year 1995.
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From the very first glance, something unspoken passed between them – a recognition, as though their hearts had known each other long before this lifetime. Their love unfolded tenderly, like a sunrise over the valleys of Mpumalanga and in 1998, that love found its most precious expression: the birth of their greatest gift, iNkosazana yamaShibase, uMafungwase, their princess, Mbalenhle Noluthando Yeni – a name that means “Beautiful Flower of Love” and reflects the story that brought her into the world.
From the heart of Mpumalanga, a young man named Kenneth Thabani Mkhize found himself drawn to a graceful and radiant soul from the serene hills of Umkomaas, Nokukhanya Fortunate Sishi, may her soul Rest in Peace. Their worlds collided in their college years, and it was more than chance, it was destiny in motion.
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What began as a spark quickly blossomed into a flame, a deep, lasting love rooted in sincerity and nurtured by fate. This sacred bond brought forth their most cherished blessing, their greatest joy and beloved prince, iNkosana yaseMbo, Minenhle Mayibongwe Mkhize – a symbol of their love and union made eternal. Shortly after giving birth to Minenhle, Nokukhanya Mkhize transitioned to glory. A few years later, Mr KT Mkhize met and married Mrs PS MaRadebe Mkhize.
In his late teen years, Minenhle crossed paths with a young man named Thabiso Chule. What began as a casual meeting quickly deepened into a bond of true brotherhood. Their friendship was unshakable – so much so that when Thabiso’s mother passed away, Minenhle stood beside him in grief, offering quiet strength.
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But fate, always at work in the background, had more in store.
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Unbeknownst to them, the woman they were laying to rest that day was not only Thabiso’s mother – she was also the beloved sister of Mbalenhle’s mother. In that moment of mourning, amidst shared sorrow and silent prayers, Minenhle and Mbalenhle met for the very first time.
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Neither of them knew that they had just brushed shoulders with destiny – that this brief encounter was the quiet beginning of a love story written long before they were born.
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Months passed without Minenhle and Mbalenhle crossing paths again. But as the Zulu saying goes, “Izintaba kuphela ezingahlangani” – only mountains never meet. Their souls had already touched once; it was only a matter of time before destiny brought them together again.
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Then came a time the world will never forget – the stillness of Covid. A season of loss, uncertainty, and isolation swept across the globe. Life slowed to a near standstill, forcing people indoors and into themselves. Streets were quiet, but phone screens lit up with the echoes of connection.
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And it was in this strange, suspended time – when the world stopped moving – that fate began to stir once more.
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Then came the night that would change everything – a quiet evening, the 3rd of August 2021. Under a sky full of stars and the silence of a slowed-down world, fate worked its quiet magic.
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Both Minenhle and Mbalenhle found themselves on the same Instagram livestream – two hearts drawn into the same digital space, unaware that love was about to softly announce itself.
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He, the ever-smiling, confident young man from Hammarsdale, was captivated. Her presence was magnetic – a graceful, articulate beauty from the hills of Hillcrest whose words carried wisdom and warmth. As hours passed and laughter filled the airwaves, the livestream blossomed into something more intimate.
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Six hours in, with familiar strangers still gathered, someone suggested a playful game of matchmaking – assigning "partners" just for fun. But when it came to Minenhle, there was no hesitation. With the kind of boldness that only love can awaken, he declared,
“This one is my wife!”
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Mbalenhle, smitten, intrigued and slightly caught off guard by his charm, smiled and asked,
“Why aren’t you married yet?”
To which he replied, without knowing the depth of his words,
“I haven’t found the right one yet.”
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What he didn’t know was – he had just found her.
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As the livestream wound down after hours of shared laughter and heartfelt exchanges, Minenhle took one last step. He slid into her DM’s and sent her a message that sealed the moment in time:
“Goodnight, my beautiful wife.”
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And just like that... the first chapter of their love story was written.
One line, one smile, one divine coincidence at a time.
What began as a single message turned into days filled with conversation. From talking every day... to every hour... to every moment they could steal away from the world – Minenhle and Mbalenhle found themselves drawn into a love that felt as natural as breathing.
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And then, it was time.
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They decided to meet in person for the very first time – on the 24th of September 2021, Heritage Day. Neither of them realised then the beautiful symbolism hidden in the date: their grandfathers, who lived a stone-throw away from each other, shared the same birthday. Once again, fate whispered that this connection was deeper than chance.
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Their first date led them to the warm, vibrant streets of Durban – a city alive with rhythm, colour, and the perfect backdrop for a love beginning to bloom. Hand in hand, laughter dancing between them, they made memories that would linger long after the sun had set.
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And to seal the moment, they took their very first photo together – a frozen frame of new beginnings, destined to become the first page of a lifelong album.
Like all great love stories, theirs was not without its storms. Minenhle and Mbalenhle faced their share of ups and downs – moments of uncertainty, growing pains, and seasons that tested their bond. Life pulled them in different directions, trying to shake what was being so delicately built.
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But something stronger always brought them back to each other.
Fate.
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And beyond fate, something even greater – God. In the quiet moments, when words failed and logic fell short, both felt it deep within their hearts: a still, unwavering knowing.
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This was it.
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It wasn’t just a love story. It was divine alignment. A gut feeling, placed by God Himself, whispering into their spirits that this was the one they had been waiting for – the one they had been made for.
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And no matter how far they drifted or how loud the world became, they always found their way back.
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Back to each other.
Back to love.
Back home.
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Then came the day when love took its next sacred step.
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On the 16th of December 2023, the Mkhize family sent a proud and respectful delegation to the Yeni residence – not just to declare their intentions, but to honour tradition and seal a bond written in both love and ancestry.
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They came to say, with hearts full and voices steady, that iMbali yamaShibase was about to become iMbali yaseMbo.
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What began as a divine meeting of souls was now becoming a union of families, of legacies, of lineages intertwined. It was more than just a cultural proposal – it was a celebration of heritage, of faith, and of a love that had stood the test of time.
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Two families. One path. A future blooming before their eyes.
Time moved on. Seasons changed. And while many gave up on love, they held on.
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Through the noise, the doubts, the waiting – Minenhle and Mbalenhle chose each other, again and again. Their love, tested by time and trial, never wavered. They held tight to their promise, to the feeling they both carried from the very beginning – that this was no ordinary love story.
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And now, through prayer, love, and divine timing -- the day has come.
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On the 17th of December 2025, you are cordially invited to witness a love that has defied odds, honoured tradition, and blossomed into something truly timeless.
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Come celebrate the union of two beaming hearts, two souls, and two families – a love written by fate, confirmed by God, and blissfully sealed in joy.
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Minenhle Mayibongwe Mkhize & Mbalenhle Noluthando Yeni.
Together. Forever. Finally.
