TEHRAN An 80-year-old South African woman has married a man who died 25 years ago, AFP quoted a South African publication as saying. In the unusual ceremony at Vaalbank East of Pretoria, Zibi Masanabo married the father of her children, Isaac Masanabo, who died in 1973. Isaac may be dead but he is still the best man for me, Masanabo said after the wedding.

The couple had seven children together since 1940, but were never legally married, although Isaac Masanabo had paid his lover's family 10 out of the 12 cows agreed for her hand. According to a tradition common in South Africa, a man must pay his future bride's family an agreed amount, called Lobola, before marrying her. It was Masanabo's dream to marry her long-time love, so last week her family organized a traditional amendable ceremony, followed by a church wedding.

They also paid the outstanding Lobola.