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A number of angry couples who had gathered outside the closed door of the Civil Court said they had booked 27 December for their weddings in August.
There was confusion nationally about yesterday’s holiday status.
While the Civil Court at Tredgold was closed, the one at West Commonage was operational and couples made their marriage vows.
Some calendars had declared 27 December a public holiday while others had not.
However, the Government announced last week that the day was indeed a public holiday.
Disappointed brides were sleeping in cars outside the building waiting for official communication from authorities at the court.
A huge number left in disgust, complaining that they had poured huge sums of money in preparation for the day.
“I am angry. I think I will sue the court. I booked this date at the beginning of August. Court officials should have had the courtesy of informing us that they would be closed. They have our contact details,” said a bride in a wedding gown.
A groom, who seemed overwhelmed by the development, lamented the money that he said had gone down the drain because of the court’s “insensitivity”.
“I have spent more than $5 000 to make this day special for my bride. As we speak, relatives who travelled from all over Southern Africa are waiting for us at church. Some are at a private home in Hillside that we are using to host the wedding. Since we have not been able to sign anything, it means all the other costs have been for nothing as there will be no celebration today,” said the groom.
He said a court official arrived in the morning and told everyone to come back today because yesterday was a holiday.
“I think there will be congestion and more confusion tomorrow as there are obviously people who were already booked for the day. I am at a loss on what to do,” said the groom.
A man who identified himself as Mr Joseph Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu said a number of brides wept openly when they found the court closed.
“I am part of a bridal team. My relatives had an 8.15am booking. I counted about six weeping brides who could not stomach the disappointment of having to postpone their wedding ceremony. There were about 20 couples who came here today to sign their wedding certificates,” said Mr Ndlovu, just before midday.
He said he was surprised that those who had made bookings at West Commonage were signing their certificates.
Contacted for comment, the provincial magistrate for Bulawayo and Matabeleland North, Mr John Masimba, said the civil court was right to close.
“Government departments do not work on a public holiday. If the West Commonage civil court was operating, then something is wrong there,” said Mr Masimba.
He said the couples who found the court closed yesterday had been asked to come today.
“There will be no congestion at the registry today because the next batch of couples is due on Friday. Registration of marriages is not done everyday,” he said.
Meanwhile, a number of shops in the city were caught up in the confusion as they opened briefly in the morning.
“Our employer has phoned and told us to go home because he has discovered that today is a holiday. We were confused this morning when some relatives told us they were not going to work today because it was a public holiday,” said an employee at a supermarket that was closing at about 11.45am.
The Permanent Secretary for Media, Information and Publicity, Mr George Charamba, last week announced that 27 December had been declared a public holiday.
He said the day would compensate for Christmas that was on a Sunday.
Mr Charamba said the Monday that follows a holiday that falls on a Sunday automatically becomes a public holiday.
He said this year’s Monday 26 December was Boxing Day, meaning that the next day would be a public holiday.
Online Reporter