内容摘要："Tate told her repeatedly that if she ever crossed him, he was going to kill her," the lawsuit states.

"Tate told her repeatedly that if she ever crossed him, he was going to kill her," the lawsuit states.

So too is the inclusion of polygamous unions. While polygyny - the marriage of a man to several women - is allowed in South Africa, such relationships are usually registered as customary marriages and are not celebrated in church.However, the IPHC is one of what is known as an African independent church, which is allowed to officiate them - as long as the marriages are also registered with the country's home affairs department.

According to the 2022 census, more than 85% of South Africans identified as Christian, followed by 8%, who said they practised traditional African beliefs.Several churches with large congregations mix both belief systems - like the IPHC - though mainstream Protestant and Catholic churches remain the biggest denominations.For the IPHC, polygamy has been taught and encouraged and has "evolved with the church" from its inception in Soweto in 1962 to a congregation today of 3.1 million across southern Africa, senior church official Mpho Makwana told the BBC.

Mr Molala married his first wife in 1991, six years after joining the church. She was also a member - an important factor for those looking to take a spouse. The church explicitly forbids marriages to outsiders.Nine years later, Mr Molala and his wife sat down to discuss the expansion of the family. After a church-wide search, the couple settled on Shirley who was then 23.

"I felt important [because I was] noticed among the many women in the church," she said.

Evelyn too was selected after a church-initiated process that began in February. She admitted it took a while for her to warm to the idea of joining a polygamous union, though Shirley's receptive attitude made it easier for her.She will take part in the event on Sunday, also raising money for the same causes.

"It's going to be a challenge physically and emotionally because it's the first one since Rob's passing," the 42-year-old said."It's such a special occasion and it makes me proud to be associated with Leeds.

"I know how proud Rob was to have the marathon in his name and to continue his legacy is so special to the family."Rob's MND diagnosis came two years after he retired from a17-year career at Leeds Rhinos, during which he made almost 500 appearances and won 13 trophies.