By Roshila Pillay and Marvin Meintjies
Like a firework that promises to enthral but fizzles out without so much as a bang, the wedding of Rhema church head, Pastor Ray McCauley, to Zelda Ireland was a resounding flop - at least from a spectator's point of view.
The decorations by avant-garde interior designer Dorothy Van't Riet and the wedding dress designed by Marianne Fassler were not lacking in any way, but the groom, with his recently shorn head - which congregation members hastened to explain was "an accident" - looked tense and tired.
At first it appeared Ireland's corset was restricting her breathing, but on closer inspection it was obvious the bride was equally pensive, comforting herself by constantly swaying from side to side.
Before the wedding on Saturday, reports abounded that some church members had condemned the wedding and McCauley's "lavish" lifestyle, saying that the union would cause a rift in one of South Africa's largest congregations.
The church shot back, alleging that the only impetus for such a rift would be the portion of "whites dissatisfied that we (the congregation) are now 70 percent black".
McCauley's spokesperson, Ron Steele, was confident the 6 000 people expected to attend the wedding would be an indication of the church's unity. But, as the guests slowly filtered in, it was clear that there would not be a large turnout. The church - which accommodates 7 500 people and boasts a 20 000-strong congregation - was not even half full.
After the vows were exchanged, McCauley took to the podium to give a short speech. On the verge of tears, he thanked his friends for coming. McCauley has come under increasing public scrutiny since his divorce a year ago from wife Lyndie. Joshua, their son, lives with his father.
According to church members, Lyndie would not allow their daughter, Kristen, to attend McCauley's wedding to two-time divorcee Ireland. Leon Meyer, the eldest of Ireland's three children, said he was happy about the marriage. "If this (the marriage) was not from God, they would not have been here today."
McCauley has hit back at disgruntled members of his Rhema congregation who claim his "lavish" lifestyle and his marriage to Ireland will divide one of the largest church groups in South Africa.
Steele first denied there were any divisions but later confirmed that disgruntled congregants were attempting to "hurt Pastor Ray and his bride".
Ireland has two children out of wedlock and two failed marriages. McCauley divorced his ex-wife Lyndie in July last.
Disgruntled Rhema congregants charge that McCauley lives in a manner that would not be possible on the salary of R20 000 that he apparently draws from the church.
Steele however said: "This is the accumulation (of assets) of a man who is 51, a normal guy who is wise with finances."
The disgruntled congregants asked how McCauley affords:
- A house in Bryanston (which had no bond) which he sold recently for R2,3-million.
- A luxury holiday villa at Club Kerkira (also no bond), at Palm Beach, on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast with at least three bedrooms, a beach buggy and other sporting equipment, all with a market value said to be over R650 000.
- A 5-Series BMW, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Golf 4 for his son Josh.
Steele went on to say "there can hardly be any division in the church if we have 6 000 people attending the wedding. Also, the church has gained over 5 000 members in the past 18 months. Hardly a sign of division."
He suggested that "people are trying to use the newspaper because they don't like Zelda. (Perhaps) if he was marrying a 60-year-old virgin then they would be happy."
As to McCauley's apparent wealth, Steele said: " The house in Bryanston, he sold it yes, so he could pay the settlement to Lyndie, but the figure that the settlement to Lindie was R10-million is totally ridiculous, it was nowhere near this.
"They ask how does a guy own a R2,3-million home. Pastor Ray owned a couple of gyms before he started the ministry, he was not poor.
"He owned a house in Wendywood and then sold it and bought a house in Bryanston. He sold that house after a couple of years (at) some profit and bought the present house."
As to the holiday home at Club Kerkira, Steel said: "He owned a one-bed place at San Lameer and he sold that and made a profit. He then bought a bigger one (at San Lameer) and also sold that and made a profit. Then he bought the one at Club Kerkira for R400 000 which is nowhere near R600 000."
As to the vehicles, Steele said: "Yes, he owns a 5-Series BMW.
"The Harley Davidson was a gift from a church in Seattle (in the US), the Jeep Grand Cherokee belongs to the church.
"Josh (his son) has a Golf, and the beach buggy on the south coast was bought, probably at half the price, from a member of the church who makes them."