Ecstatic mayor to exchange wedding vows

Tshwane executive mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa and his wife Georgia Shekeshe during their traditional wedding held at his mother's house in Atteridgiville. Picture: Masi Losi

Tshwane executive mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa and his wife Georgia Shekeshe during their traditional wedding held at his mother's house in Atteridgiville. Picture: Masi Losi

Published Jan 24, 2015

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Pretoria -

Ladies, Tshwane executive mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa is officially off the market.

The city’s first citizen will on Sunday exchange marriage vows with Georgia Shekeshe during an exclusive ceremony on a wine farm in the Western Cape.

Marriage will become the ultimate birthday present for one of South Africa’s youngest executive mayors, who will also be turning 40 on Sunday.

The exact location for the double celebration is not being disclosed for security reasons and to avoid gate-crashers.

The Tshwane first lady is a former personal assistant of the executive mayor and vacated the job when their office romance started blossoming.

The two had a traditional wedding ceremony in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria, towards the end of last year.

At the colourful event, the bride was given the name Mmatabudi, in accordance with the Batlokwa culture.

In terms of the culture, the couple’s next child will be named Tabudi. The Ramokgopas already have a two-year-old son, Matthew.

The mayor, who has royal blood in his veins, has his ancestral roots at the Ga-Ramokgopa village in Limpopo.

Ramokgopa joked: “It’s funny that I have to get married in another city instead of Tshwane, isn’t it?

“It is almost like not having faith in your own city.

“However, what matters is that the decision was made by my wife, and that she is happy.”

Attendance is by invitation only and expected guests include family members, friends and people the groom forged relationships with in political and government circles.

The mayor told the Pretoria News he would be wearing a champagne coloured suit, while his wife would be in a cream-white wedding gown.

But Ramokgopa was quick to point out he played no role in choosing the colours.

Neither was he involved in the organisational side of the second biggest day of his life.

“I am hopeless with planning events such as weddings,” he said with a laugh.

The first biggest day of life, said the ANC Tshwane regional leader, was when he was born just a day short of four decades ago.

Ramokgopa, nicknamed Sputla for his skill and creative manoeuvring of a soccer ball in his teenage years, said he met his wife soon after he officially started his mayoral term following the 2011 local government election.

A year earlier, he had taken over the municipality’s highest office to see out the term of his aunt Gwen Ramokgopa who had been appointed deputy minister of health.

“My wife is a wonderful person. She changed my outlook to life. I am happy and have never looked back since I met her, and have no intention of doing so,” added Ramokgopa.

- Pretoria News Weekend

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