By Mbali Thusi
There was a traffic snarl-up in the streets leading to the Anglican Cathedral in Umtata in the Eastern Cape as the cavalcade of top-of-the-range luxury vehicles accompanied by wailing sirens whisked Zulu and Xhosa royalty to the church.
It was pomp and ceremony in true royal style as His Majesty Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini walked his second daughter, Princess Nandi Zulu, 25, down the aisle.
As the royal entourage whisked past on its way to the church, jubilant locals lined the streets to catch a glimpse of their Chief Bovulengwe Mfundo Mtirara of the Thembu clan tie the knot with Princess Nandi.
Chief Mtirara is the son of Chief Zwelakhe and Queen Nobantu Mtirara while Princess Nandi is the daughter of Queen Buhle Mathe of the KwaDlamahlahla royal palace in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal.
For a moment it all seemed like a fairytale wedding when His Majesty walked down the red carpet with his daughter. The marriage between Princess Nandi, who is a Zulu, and Chief Mtirara, a Xhosa, is being seen as a showcase of the two different cultures.
Flashing the latest fashion trends, guests filled the Anglican Cathedral to witness the historical matrimony.
Princess Nandi is the first daughter of King Zwelithini to get married.
Amongst those present were Home Affairs Minister Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa, Chief Thethuvumile Mathanzima, the son of the late Chief George Mathanzima, and nationally acclaimed praise singer Zolani Mkiva.
Seeing off his daughter at the altar, His Majesty wished the couple everything of the best in their marriage.
According to tradition, Princess Nandi's mother could not be present to see her daughter's happiest day, but Zwelithini's other four queens attended the prestigious event. Ntombikayise Mathe, younger sister of Queen Mathe, was present to stand in for her sister.
Princess Nandi's sister, Princess Sibusile, said "it is very interesting that the marriage is going to bring together both families who have different traditions one being Zulu and the other Xhosa."
Emotions ran high an hour before the ceremony got under way when local journalists and news photographers were barred from entering the church with their equipment.
A representative from a public relations company said the wedding was private and exclusive rights had been granted to the international media present. But after much debate the local photographers were given permission to shoot inside the church by senior members in the office of King Zwelithini.
The wedding will end on Saturday after a traditional wedding ceremony at the Ematyenengqina Great Palace in Umtata.
Chief Mtirara paid lobolo of 120 head of cattle and two horses.