South African businessman Milton Mbele broke all the traditional rules of a polygamous wedding when he recently married four women on the same day.

The four brides dressed in flowing white gowns walked down the aisle together, before saying “We do” to the 44-year-old groom.

Mr Mbele says he didn’t marry them purely for the spectacle but also because it made financial sense.

“I don’t know how much four different weddings would have cost me but I know doing it all at once saved money,” he explains.

“For example I only needed one tent, I needed to hire one caterer and one photographer for the entire ceremony.”

“I began putting money aside for the event towards the end of 2007 and started collecting quotes for things like the tent and catering costs early last year.”

He says he loves all his wives – Thobile Vilakazi, Zanele Langa, Baqinisile Mdlolo and Smangele Cele – equally and also treats them that way.

Mr Mbele himself wears four rings on his finger – he says this is a sign of his commitment to all his wives.

The wives say they were shocked by the news that Mr Mbele wanted to marry them at once but add that they agreed because they love him.

Some two weeks after their much publicised two-day ceremony, Mr Mbele says he is overwhelmed by all the attention his wedding has attracted.

Mr Mbele, a Zulu businessman and municipal manager, says polygamy is still very much part of Zulu tradition.

“My grandfather himself had three wives,” says Mr Mbele, quickly adding that he isn’t blindly following in his grandfather’s footsteps.

“I prefer polygamy to having many girlfriends which is what some married men do,” he says.

“If I love more than one woman, I would rather make it known to the other women in my life and make it official.

“If I feel like taking another wife this is something that will be in the open and my wives would know,” he says

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