On one knee at old school

It is a story of young love that started ten years before at a local school, that had to overcome many obstacles before it could end up in an engagement.

Ian Bezuidenhout (20) and Danielle Terblanche (19) met for the first time in 2006 when they were in Grade 4 at the Agape Christian School in Weltevreden Park. They laughed and said that they did date. “We dated like children of that age date,” said Terblanche. Bezuidenhout moved to Zambia in 2008, but the two kept in touch. “I came back a year later and started home schooling with Danielle. We still dated, but it fizzled in 2011,” explained Terblanche.

In 2015 Bezuidenhout moved from Pretoria to Johannesburg when he decided to get in touch with a few friends. “We went to the movies and this is where it all started again,” said Bezuidenhout. “I originally wanted to ask her to get married with a family photo shoot, but that wasn’t really about us.”

This is when Bezuidenhout decided that he would ask Terblanche at Agape as this is where they had met. “On 9 March he came to fetch me at my office, which he never does. This is when I knew that it will happen today,” laughed Terblanche. Bezuidenhout told her that they have to pick up a parcel for his mother as her friend works at the school. “We talked to teachers about our past and how we met here and this is when I asked her.”

Terblanche explained that Bezuidenhout asked her by the fountain while the pupils looked on. “Let’s start our new beginning at the place where we met,” said Bezuidenhout.

Bezuidenhout is busy with his commercial pilot’s licence and will be finished in about two years. Terblanche will also study two more years to become a graphic designer. “We want to get married in about two years once we complete our studies,” concluded Terblanche. The couple advise other couples to always be honest and communication is key.

Details: Agape Christian School, 011 475 1661.

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