WHEN they were married more than six decades ago, by the late Reverend C.W. Hendrickse in Kariega’s Dale Street Congregational Church, they didn’t have much and had to borrow rings and a wedding attire just to make the wedding happen.
Today, after many ups and downs, including losing two of their five children to car accidents, Willem and Elsie Plaatjies are still happily married and celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary two days ago.
After being childhood friends and growing up together in the Baviaanskloof, Willem (84) and Elsie (82) tied the knot on May 2, 1959.
Although they had known each other since they were little, Elsie said that they only fell in love after both moved to Nelson Mandela Bay.
“We went to school together, so only after we moved here, did we start to feel that there was something more,” Elsie said.
Willem, on the other hand, believes that it was love at first sight for him.
“How did you feel the first time that you saw mom?” their daughter, Wilma, asked him.
“It was love, yes; the love that eventually brought us together.
“It was love,” he said.
The couple, who resides in Salsoneville, had four daughters and a son, but lost two of their daughters tragically in 1981 and 1987.
They are still blessed with two daughters, a son, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
When asked what their secret is to a long and happy marriage, Elsie said that first and foremost, you have to build the foundation of your marriage on God and a husband and wife should always be honest with one another.
“Staying by the Lord’s side is worth it. In these 63 years we lost two children to death and that just brought us closer to each other.
“That is why I tell all couples that there has to be at least one of them that has a relationship with God,” she explained.
“You have to trust each other,” Willem added.
“Even young married couples today should ensure that they trust each other because many people are unfaithful but your marriage will stay standing if you are faithful to each other.”
When asked what the fondest memory would be of their 63 years together, Elsie said that it’s the memory of how they started with nothing but built something.
“We received this marriage from the Lord. We really didn’t have anything and there wasn’t any carrying over the threshold for us, and everything that we received we asked for on our knees. Even our little spot that we live in, we also received from the Lord.”
Wilma added that her parents have been inseparable all these years.
“My mother would say what kept their union strong was the fact that they did everything together: planned finances, handled family problems and family tragedies. God’s grace also pulled them through because they put Him first in everything.
“It wasn’t an easy road but today’s couples give up so easily.
“My father is still so in love. All that he remembers is their anniversary date but he forgets my mother’s birthday and his own. Closer to time he’ll only talk about their anniversary,” she said.
She added that both her parents had COVID-19 in 2020 and her father was in hospital for two weeks but when he came back, they were even more in love than before.
“They didn’t have anything for the wedding and strangely enough, my mother often used to say that she would love to have a proper wedding with a wedding gown and everything.
“They are such an inspiration to everyone, even to our church, the community, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
