Meet our bridal couple of the year

HADit not been for the bride’s father, who entered The Mercury’s Bridal Couple of the Year competition on their behalf, Rowena and Musa Sibiya would not have walked away with top honours and spectacular prizes in this annual event.

The couple, both Durban medical doctors, were announced as overall monthly winners yesterday at the NWJ Bridal Show at the Durban Exhibition Centre. They were the winners in June and competed against 11 other couples for the crown of the best couple of the year.

An ecstatic Musa, 30, said after their wedding in February last year, his father-in-law, Michael Fillis, was determined to have their picture sent to The Mercury.

“He was so persistent. He sent it for real and when we were announced as winners we could not believe it,” he said.

“We feel excited. It was totally unexpected. According to us, everyone was a winner here as everyone had made it to the final. We feel humbled and we are grateful.”

The Sibiyas walked away with an eight-piece dining room suite worth R67 000 from Geen and Richards, a kitchen appliance from Illovo and a set of luggage from Gopals. The other 11 couples received vouchers from Woolworths.

When Rowena, 30, and Musa met at the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, they knew that there was chemistry but decided not to rush into anything.

“There was nothing happening in terms of an intimate relationship. We were friends, but we had a close relationship in the second half of 2011. We both knew there was something here, but we said, let us not rush, let us examine these feelings we have,” they jointly said.

But their love shone through and they eventually tied the knot at Cranford Country Lodge in the Midlands.

“Marriage is an institution that God created and he is the foundation of our marriage. And that does not mean there are no ups and downs, but if he is the anchor and the foundation, the building will not be moved,” said Musa.

Asked what they felt made them become winners, a blushing Rowena said: “Because my husband is handsome.”

Shaking off the compliment, Musa said apart from the quality of the picture, “my wife is hot”.

The couple’s home is in New Germany. They are considering having children.

“That is what family is about. Two would be fine,” said Musa.

“As many as God would bless us with,” said Rowena.

PICTURES: JACQUES NAUDE The Editor of The Mercury, Fikile-Ntsikelelo Moya, centre, congratulates The Mercury Bridal Couple of the Year winners, Musa and Rowena Sibiya, at the Durban Exhibition Centre yesterday.

Belinda Schuil, Callan Hlangu, Kay Ndungane and Zama Hlangu.

Faith Gray, Tasmin Barnard and Heather Walker.

Marianne van Rensburg, Amanda Janisch and Karen Rundle.

Shihir Singh, Sinead Chinsamy and Matt van Heerden.

PICTURE: DEAN DEMOS PHOTOGRAPHY Musa and Rowena Sibiya, the winners for the month of June 2014, as pictured in The Mercury.

Camilla Railton, Lieze Bothma and Shirley Bilham.