By Siphilile Shemembe and Mhlengi Shangase
More than 1 000 guests attended the wedding of King Goodwill Zwelithini's daughter, Princess Bukhosibemvelo Zibuyile Zulu, 24, and Ngwavuma-born businessman Sipho Nyawo, 49, at Durban's Botanic Gardens on Saturday.
Among the guests were eThekwini Mayor Obed Mlaba, who said he had enjoyed the ceremony and the company of royal entourages from other countries, including Swaziland, Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"The wedding went very well. It was a wonderful occasion," said Mlaba.
Other guests included IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Cosatu president S'dumo Dlamini and President Jacob Zuma's wives MaKhumalo, MaNtuli and his fiance, Thobeka Ka Mabhija.
Princess Bukhosibemvelo, the daughter of Mantfombi Khangelamankengane, has a qualification in somatology (beauty technology).
Before the wedding ceremony, King Zwelithini called his sons to the front where they said "goodbye" to their sister.
A lobola negotiator, Vuzi Khoza, said Nyawo, director of the Joburg-based Amathonga Investment Institute, had paid, in full, his lobola of 120 cows.
In 2007, when lobola was being paid for Princess Bukhosibemvelo, the king expressed concern over those who "crawl" to the Zulu royal household, begging to marry his children, only to fail to accord them the treatment they deserved. He urged men who wanted to marry his daughters to treat them in the manner they deserved.
A traditional wedding ceremony will take place this weekend at Nyawo's home at Ngwavuma, near the Swaziland border.