Alumni sweethearts

Nicolé and Hugo Maré

Nicolé (BSc 2012, BSc Hons 2013, LLB 2016) and
Hugo (LLB 2014)

Nicolé and Hugo have been together since their schooldays and throughout university. They were married in August 2017 and shared their photographs with WITSReview in the romantic garden setting of the Wits Club.

Nicole says they spent “many, many hours in the Commerce Library and the William Cullen Library”, as well as study and brainstorming sessions at Olives & Plates – “the best food and cake on campus”. It’s no wonder they had their engagement photo shoot on campus, “at all our iconic and memorable spots at Wits”.

“Wits is close to our heart, and will always remain so. The foundations of our careers were built there. Our dedication to success and our love for one another grew stronger year after year. We truly are proud Witsies.”  

Their first baby was born on 12 December 2023 and her name is Lara Alethia Maré. “We moved to Cape Town in 2022. Hugo and I are and will always remain proudly Witsies. It is a good feeling when meeting new people in a new environment and when they mention studying at Wits too there is an instant connection and sense of pride.”

Lebogang and Siyabonga Nkabinde

Lebogang (BSc 2016, BSc Hons 2017, MSc 2019) and
Siyabonga (BSc 2015, BSc Hon 2016, MSc 2018, PhD 2022)

"We met in chemistry class. I was the new girl and didn’t know anyone," writes Lebogang. "Then after a field trip, as soon as we got off the bus, Siya asked me to wait, despite not talking to me throughout the trip. I had to rush my mother who had been waiting. He made a joke about me looking lonely in the bus sitting with the lecturer and he would be my friend. But then proceeded to ask me on a date.

"He asked what my idea of perfect date was and he told me his (working out together at the gym). He suggested we toss a coin. Heads we would do my date, tails we would do his. I’m not sure if he rigged the coin but it said tails and we had our first date at the Wits gym.

"The date didn’t go so well. I left the gym with no intention of seeing him again. Then he asked “When are we doing your date? It’s only fair!” The second date went much better. Today we’ve been together for 10 years and will be married for three years. We now go to gym together but definitely DO NOT workout together."

Zanele and Tshepo Motsepe

Zanele (BEd 2007, BEd Hon 2009, PDipEd 2012) and
Tshepo (BEd Hons 2011)

"It began at his Orientation Week, then we walked every night at “Lovers’ Lane” which was on the JCE campus," says Zanele.

"We both studied education and we’d often meet in the library. We became SRC members and have been friends and lovers to date! We have three amazing children together."

Palesa and Anele Mnyaka

Palesa (BA DA 2017, MA 2018) and
Anele (PGDipPlan 2015, MUD 2018)

"We met on campus in 2014 but only started talking in 2015. We would randomly bump into each multiple times until he asked for my number. I refused and he let go," writes Palesa.

"After three weeks of not seeing each other, I saw him walking to class one day and offered him my number because I thought he was interesting from previous conversations. We immediately engaged in a three-hour conversation on the lawns outside the Wits Theatre and that’s when he asked me to go out on our first date.

"He took me to a museum, which was quite different and a couple of dates later on the Bozzoli lawns, during a singing date, we started dating. We were always together, we walked to school together, studied together, churched together, ate together and went to the gym together. Now we are wonderfully married for almost six years with beautiful children and I wouldn’t trade it for the world."

Nomathamsanqa and Oupa Sibeko

Nomathamsanqa (BA DA 2018) and
Oupa BA PA 2015)

"I met my husband at the Wits School of Arts resource centre in 2013," says Nomathamsanqa.

"We started spending time together as friends around campus. He assisted me in my practicals as he was already a senior. When I was in my final year he proposed, and we got married in same year I graduated.

Now we have a 4-year-old son and we recently got back from our first European trip together as a family."

Nelisiwe and Mohloki Seng

Nelisiwe (BA 205, LLB 2017) and
Mohloki (BSc Eng 2018)

"I met my man at Wits and we both lived at Barnato Hall in 2014, Nelisiwe shared on Instagram.

"We have been married for almost six years and are parents to the most handsome boy and beautiful girl. Those closet to me call me 'Mrs My Husband and Kids'.

"This union is one of the biggest blessings of my life. Forever grateful."

Tshepiso and Mduduzi Nkosi

Tshepiso (BAccSci 2017) and
Mduduzi  (BSc 2017)

"We met at Wits in 2015 and life has been truly a blessing ever since," Mdudzi shared via Instagram, who majored in economics and mathematics at Wits.

"We went to Wits to get education and came out with more than that. We have been married for four years now and have a baby boy aged one year and 11 months.

"I will forever be grateful to Wits for the opportunity it afforded me to meet my wife."

Kerry-Anne and Grant Saggers

Kerry-Anne, neé Sinton, Saggers (BEconSc 2003, BSc Hons 2005) and
Grant (BSc 2003, BEconSc Hons 2004, MEconSc 2006) 

"In January 2000, in the first week of classes to study Actuarial Science at Wits I met a wonderful young lady called Kerry-Anne Sinton.

"We were in the same classes, but she was out of my league, much smarter. It showed in the results, with her finishing first year at the top of the Actuarial Science class and me scraping through with a very lucky pass.

"But I am a smart man. So, I diversified. I left actuarial science to focus on Economics and Mathematics, and instead started dating the future actuary. We completed our studies together, seeing each other on campus, on the Great Hall stairs, or in the library every day. She completed two degrees before becoming a fully-fledged actuary.

"I completed three Economics degrees and was an associate lecturer in the Economics Department for a few years. I went off to study at Cambridge University, taking with me from many great memories, and most importantly a wife!

"Kerry-Anne and I have been married for nearly 18 years. We live in London and have a wonderful daughter.

"Kerry-Anne’s parents – Tony and Gaby Sinton – also met through studies at Wits during the late 1970s and have been married for 48 years.

"When we come back to visit family in South Africa, we drop in to Wits to show our daughter where it all began."

Elsa and Sam Butler

Aletta, née Vorster, Butler (BA 1975) and
Pierce (CTA 1976)

“I first went to Wits in 1970. I was studying a BSc and was staying in in Men’s Res at College House. During 1971 I decided to change track and enrolled for a CTA part-time beginning in 1972,” writes Pierce (Sam).

“At that time, I was staying in Robyn Court in Braamfontein. Part-time study or not one still had to keep up with the social goings-on at Wits and so I found myself one evening at The Great Hall for the Freshers Ball.

“As this was now my third Freshers Ball I presume I considered myself quite cool in the midst of the first years. I was sitting at the edge of the dance-floor casually draped over a back-to-front chair when I saw a friend of mine walking off the floor after dancing with a very attractive girl. I nonchalantly asked her if she would like to dance and she said yes.

“Aletta Vorster (Elsa) and I ended up spending most of the evening together and when it came to dropping her off at Sunnyside in good time to avoid the wrath of Ethel and the other front door guardians, she discovered that one of her shoes/sandals was missing. To no avail we looked everywhere for it.

“The next day I headed off post-haste to lost property to look for “Cinderella’s” slipper and duly delivered it to the happy owner. Big credits there.

“One thing led to another and after a whirlwind romance we were married eleven years later in Brook Green, London in 1983 with many Witsies in attendance.

“We had two children and I still live in Johannesburg. Elsa unfortunately passed away in October 2022, but we had never forgotten that Freshers Ball or stopped thanking Wits for bringing us together.

Gomolemo and Siyabonga

Gomolemo Malinga (BCom 2020, HDipAcc 2022) and
Siyabonga (BAccSci 2017, HDipAcc 2018)

“It was fate that brought us together on the vibrant campus of Wits University in February 2017, writes Gomolemo.  "I was just starting my journey as a first-year student and he was in his fourth year.

“I don’t know if it was love at first sight, but I told Siya that I loved him the first time he called me after I gave him my number. And till today ‘I love you’ is our favourite phrase.

“As we navigated our studies and life together, our bond grew stronger with each passing day. We’ve supported each other's dreams, celebrated milestones, and lifted each other up through life’s ups and downs. Our shared passion for becoming chartered accountants has blossom into a beautiful love story.

“Two years ago, we took a significant leap of faith and purchased our first home together.

“We are grateful for the journey that has brought us closer together.

“We did not just leave Wits with degrees, we found love and family.”