29 Jun 2026

Thirteen cohabiting couples in Topisi were officially united in marriage on Thursday in a mass wedding ceremony conducted by Palapye Deputy District Commissioner, Mr Kabelo Tshekiso. 

The Re a nyalana initiative aims to protect women and children from property disputes upon a partner’s death and promote stable, resilient homes through pre- and post-marital counseling.

Mr Tshekiso highlighted that in cohabitation, women and children often faced devastating consequences when a partner died.

Women are frequently deprived of the deceased partner’s estate, leaving the children vulnerable in battles over their departed father’s assets. 

By making the marriage process accessible and providing targeted counseling, the government hopes to create a secure legal and emotional foundation for child development. To ensure the newlyweds establish healthy, lasting foundations, Kopano Counselling Centre founder, Mr Kopano Olesitse, provided expert relationship advice. 

He outlined four critical pillars for a successful marriage which are communication, emotional intelligence, love and forgiveness.

“Communication is the foundation of a healthy marriage, it resolves conflicts and maintains trust,” Mr Olesitse stated. 

Mr Olesitse urged couples to control their emotions to avoid arguments, which was a leading cause of divorce.

“The ability to choose how we act when we feel a certain way creates a growing sense of integrity, comfort, and fairness,” he noted.

Addressing broader family dynamics, Mr Olesitse encouraged couples to love their stepchildren equally, stating that competing for a partner’s attention only brought exhaustion, whereas treating all children with love guaranteed peace at home. 

Furthermore, he issued a strong plea to in-laws to stop interfering in their children’s marriages, noting that familial meddling often destroyed relationships. 

He advised extended families to allow couples to lead and enjoy their marriages. 

Speaking on behalf of the newly married couples, Mr Kitso Iketleng shared that he and his partner had stayed together for a long time without formalizing their union. Through this mass wedding initiative, he said, they were now legally husband and wife. Mr Iketleng encouraged other cohabiting couples to utilise the programme, praising it as an affordable and highly smooth process. ENDS