PHOTOS: 8-Year-Old Schoolboy Marries 61-Year-Old Mother Of Five In A Ceremony Held To Please His Family’s Ancestors

Happy couple ... Helen and Sanele pose for picture

A SCHOOLBOY aged eight ties the knot — with a woman aged 61.

Little Sanele Masilela got hitched in front of 100 guests to mum-of-five Helen Shabangu, who 

already has a husband.

Ringer ... boy puts band on finger of wife

The couple swapped rings and kissed in the ceremony in Tshwane, South Africa, which Sanele claimed his dead ancestors ordered him to arrange.

Bride and gloom ... newlyweds Helen Shabangu and Sanele Masilela

But he and his bride did not sign a marriage certificate and do not live together.

His family, who forked out £1,500 on the wedding, insisted it was only a ritual and was not 

legally binding.

Sanele said: “I told my mother I wanted to get married as I really did want to.

“I’m happy that I married Helen. When I’m older I will marry a lady my own age.”

Kiss chaste ... Helen Shabangu and her eight-year-old 'husband'

The boy’s 46-year-old mum Patience said: “Sanele’s grandfather asked him to get married 

before he died. He chose Helen because he loves her.

“By doing this we made the ancestors happy. If we hadn’t, something bad would have 

happened in the family.”

Helen said: “It is what the ancestors wanted.”