Celebrity couple Somizi Mhlongo and Mohale Motaung have dropped Italy as the location of their third wedding amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Somizi confirmed the cancellation in a short tweet on Thursday. In an Instagram post on Friday, he said they will choose another destination.
He wrote, “We have decided to cancel our wedding in Italy due to the coronavirus epidemic. However, we gonna look for another destination, but the dress code will include @louisvuitton masks. Just like the red bottoms were compulsory at our white wedding, so is the LV mask.”
SA man with coronavirus had travelled to Italy
Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhizi, confirmed on Thursday that a 38-year-old male in KwaZulu-Natal was South Africa’s first confirmed case of coronavirus.
In a statement, he said the man had travelled to Italy with his wife. They were part of a group of 10 people who jetted back to South Africa on 1 March, 2020.”
According to a Sky News report, Italy is the second-hardest hit country after China, with more than 3,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and over 107 deaths.
On Wednesday, the Italian government announced the closure of schools and universities until 15 March. It has also suspended football games and other events.
Wedding to coincide with Mohale’s birthday
Somizi said during an interview with Metro FM in February that they had scheduled their third wedding for July to coincide with Mohale’s birthday.
Somizi and Mohale had their star-studded and glitzy traditional wedding in Kibler Park, Johannesburg, in September last year.
They subsequently held their white wedding in Muldersdrift in January this year. Several celebrities graced it, including radio presenter Thando Thabethe, entrepreneur and former Miss SA Basetsana Khumalo, singer Vusi Nova, entertainer Khanyi Mbau, and TV presenter Minnie Dlamini, amongst others.
The star couple struck an exclusive deal with Showmax to air both weddings on the online streaming service from 24 February.
The four-part wedding special, dubbed Somizi & Mohale: The Union, has proved absolutely popular with fans.
It had the most views ever on its first day on Showmax, breaking the streaming service’s viewing records.