24 Oct 2023

Since the inception of ‘Re a nyalana’ initiative back in 2012, it has to date led to the solemnisation of over 7 000 marriages and it continues to contribute towards building of families.

Speaking during a visit to Johane wa Mokolobetsi Church in Shashemooke on October 22, the coordinator of the programme, Ms Annah Morwaagole said like other government service providers they have heeded President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s call for mindset change, hence reaching out to the religious community.

She explained that the initiative strove to formalise relationships and turn them into stable families. 

Ms Morwaagole highlighted that from the over 7 000 marriages that they helped to formalise, they had not registered any divorce case.

She noted that this indicated that some people were deterred by their socio-economic circumstances from formalising their relationships.

Furthermore, Ms Morwaagole emphasised that though they had been misconceptions about the ‘Re a nyalana’ marriages with some attaching a stigma to them, the marriages were conducted according to the laws of the country and the couples received marriage certificates.

She pointed out that the programme catered for people from the age of 21 and did not limit beneficiaries from taking the traditional route that involved patlo, bogadi, and the ceremony.

“Let us do the right thing to prevent the battles over inheritance that happen upon the death of a partner in cases where people were in a relationship, but not married,” she said.

Archbishop of Johane wa Mokolobetsi Church, Mr Joseph Cryson commended the ‘Re a nyalana’ programme and noted that the church was not excluded from issues that affected the general society such as people living together for many years without formalising their relationship into a marriage.

He stated his the church encouraged congregants to take up the right steps to build families, and commit to spread the message to other churches in the area so that they come together and be part of the ‘Re a nyalana’ programme in their village. ENDS