Proving the power of Twitter, supports poured all over from corporates and individuals for a couple after journalist mocked a man for proposing a woman at a KFC restaurant. Now a grand wedding for the couple is being planned, with all expenses and arrangement taken care of by big and small corporates, and generous individuals.
On 7th November, KFC South Africa posted a video on microblogging site Twitter with a video showing that a man was proposing to a woman at one of its restaurants. The official Twitter handle asked Mzansi (South Africans) to help locate the couple, saying they want to bless the couple, adding that there might be a surprise for the person providing the information too. They used the hashtag #KFCProposal in the tweet.
Mzansi please help us find this beautiful couple, re batla ho ba blesser ? DM us any leads, there might be a Finger Lickin’ Good surprise in it for you too. Batho ba Vaal re thuseng! We love love ?❤️ #KFCProposal pic.twitter.com/6bj89dtj4j
— KFC South Africa (@KFCSA) November 7, 2019
A Twitter user named Anele, whose bio identifies her as a journalist and feminist, didn’t like the idea of proposing in an ‘unromantic’ place like a KFC. She quote tweeted the KFC SA tweet saying “SA men are so broke they even propose at KFC. They have absolutely no class, I mean who proposed at KFC.”
Little did she know that her mocking the man will turn out to be a big blessing for the couple, as soon people started criticising her for tweet, with the #KFCProposal hashtag. Soon big brands decided to use the opportunity of a trending hashtag, and they came up with gifts for the couple.
South Africa, you guys are amazing! We’ve found the beautiful couple, and looks like we’re having a #StreetwiseWedding y’all ? We’re meeting Bhut’ Hector and his lovely bride Nonhlanhla we’ll keep you posted. #KFCProposal
— KFC South Africa (@KFCSA) November 8, 2019
Just a day later, after the KFC tweet was retweeted thousands of times including South Africa Cricket, the couple was located. On November 8, KFC SA tweeted that they have located the couple, and the company is organising a Stree Wise Wedding for Bhut Hector and his lovely bride Nonhlanhla.
After this, a person tweeted that he has spoken to the man, and informed that he wants a small event to celebrate his wife but his budget is tight. He said that they need a venue, dress, suit, cake, and food.
I just spoke to Mr Kansi re his #KFCProposal. He’d like to have a small event to celebrate his wife but budget is tight. We need a venue, dress, suit, cake, and food. I can’t wait to MC this one.
Can anyone else help us, please ?
cc @KFCSA pic.twitter.com/VoNLT5MqfW— I AM YOUR MC! (@alphi_s) November 8, 2019
Soon after this, offers of gifts started pouring for the wedding on Twitter. Items like clothing, jewellery, footwear and other accessories, gift vouchers, honeymoon packages, food and beverages, expensive liquor, TVs, Mobile phones and other electronic items, phone and TV services, wedding dresses and suits, various services for the wedding, cash donations, everything are being sponsored by various companies.
A bucket full of love for Mzansi’s favourite couple ? in true SA style, umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu, thank you to each and every one of you South’A?? Our bucket overflows with love ❤ More Finger Lickin Good news to follow #KFCProposal pic.twitter.com/cocUvTM40a
— KFC South Africa (@KFCSA) November 9, 2019
The owner of a jewellery company named Billdore Jewellers offered to gift two rings worth R45000 (around ₹2.15 lakhs) for the bride and the groom. He is offering rose gold rings with diamonds.
Guys is the sweetest story ever. Please dm me,my jewelry company will donate with these two beautiful rings worth R45000. They deserve Rose Gold with diamonds . #KFCProposal pic.twitter.com/yXmnUUCYQT
— Emerald? (@billydlamini) November 8, 2019
Finance company Capfin offered R50,000 for the couple’s wedding.
Congratulations, Bhut’ Hector and Nonhlanhla! We’d like to share the love with R50 000 towards your wedding. @KFCSA can you get us in touch with the happy couple?? #KFCProposal #StreetwiseWedding #ShareTheLove pic.twitter.com/VNaUIuDJbG
— Capfin (@CapfinSA) November 8, 2019
Coca Cola, a rival of KFC’s former owner Pepsi, sponsored the soft drinks for the wedding. Even KFC’s rivals also chipped in with contributions.
Yay for ♥️! @KFCSA ?
Just like your chicken and our Coke® are the perfect pair, and we’re all for bringing people together.
The soft drinks for the wedding are on us! We’ll keep an eye on our inbox for all the deats. ??#KFCProposal https://t.co/cXW8AjTtEU
— Coca-Cola ZA (@CocaCola_ZA) November 8, 2019
The most expensive gift so far has come from Standard Bank, with promise to clear a personal loan upto Rand 300,000 (around ₹14.35 lakhs) for the couple.
We didn’t want to steal the happy couple’s shine but since some of you have asked, we’d like to offer them a clean slate.
Over & above imvula mlomo, we’ll clear their personal loans up to R300k & if they’re with us we’ll clear it all! No need for skoloto! #GoodToGo #KFCProposal
— Standard Bank SA (@StandardBankZA) November 8, 2019
Nedbank, another bank, offered to waive the start-up costs when the couple buy a house, they also promised home loan at a preferential rate and R20,000 extra.
.@KFCSA is where you got engaged, but home is where the ❤ is. To start your journey, we will waive all your start-up costs when you buy your first home, give you a preferential home loan rate & R20 000 extra. Top this off as our VIP Guests at the 2020 Nedbank Cup #KFCProposal https://t.co/vjOwxn6lDx
— Nedbank (@Nedbank) November 8, 2019
Capital Hotels offered to host the wedding at one of its hotels.
Love Always Wins! ? @KFCSA The Capital Hotels and Apartments would
be honored to host the wedding at one our hotel venues for this beautiful couple! Please DM us to organize. #KFCProposal. https://t.co/xDNcXlBhh7— TheCapitalHotelsSA (@TheCapital_SA) November 8, 2019
De Pecan Valley, a wedding venue, also offered to host the wedding, if no one has offered the same yet.
If no one has offered a venue for the #KFCProposal yet, we would be more than happy to oblige. pic.twitter.com/Zh2EYa6sxY
— De Pecan Valley (@pecan_de) November 10, 2019
It is not that companies are just gifting for the wedding and honeymoon, a diaper company went ahead and promised to take care of honeymoon results.
We will take care of the honeymoon results ??? #KFCProposal https://t.co/Y7WWcef1BR pic.twitter.com/uGQHwYQTNC
— Adorables Baby Diapers (@AdorablesD) November 8, 2019
Some more notable gifts are given below.
These honeymoon destinations look far. Someone needs to drive them there. We got you.? #KFCProposal https://t.co/oiOMWX48Zp
— Audi South Africa (@audisouthafrica) November 8, 2019
@KFCSA S H Jewels will like to help our lovely pair when it comes to their wedding rings, we'll like to offer them any handmade wedding ring and a wedding band of their choice if no one has offered yet. #KFCProposal pic.twitter.com/0ODe3Y8gPB
— NACIRFA-MI (@SihleHlela) November 9, 2019
We are in!
To celebrate their ? engagement in style, we are willing to offer the couple a weekend stay at the resort. Please DM us details. #KFCProposal https://t.co/rkGjpAth1d— Sun City Resort (@SunCityResortSA) November 8, 2019
Hey @KFCSA nothing moves us more than a story of love and as a result we would like to send the #KFCProposal couple two devices to capture all of their memorable moments. Please get Hector and Nonhlanhla to DM us. https://t.co/Etne2ulAOl
— Huawei Mobile SA (@HuaweiZA) November 8, 2019
Some Twitter users are meticulously recording the gifts pledged by companies and individuals, one such list can be seen in the tweet attached below.
I can’t believe that South Africans planned the entire wedding via twitter because of one negative tweet about the couple.
Here is the list of the donors. #KFCWEDDING #KFCProposal pic.twitter.com/mz7tlcVrO7
— Theophillus Mofokeng (@Theopain) November 11, 2019
As for the couple, they are actually already married, and they were planning a second marriage. They had an informal wedding in 2012, and has been staying together. But there were pressures from the church to have a formal wedding, but they could not organise for lack of budget, and Hector was unable to afford a satisfactory ring for his bride. Finally, he bought a ring and proposed his wife at the KFC with the help of staff of the restaurant.
The video of the proposal was captured by a passer-by Kateka Malobola, and shared it on WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram. From there the video had reached KFC South Africa. Apart from winning a voucher from KFC, he was also given gifts by various companies for shooting the video.
The couple thanked the people of Sought Africa for the overwhelming support they have received. “Thank you South Africa. Your kindness has truly warmed us. We would have never imagined that our love story would have touched so many of you. While we appreciate the support, we ask that you please give us a moment to take it all in. We will definitely let you know about our plans around the wedding,” they said in a Facebook post.
And for the person who started it all by mocking the couple, Anele has protected her Twitter account.
