Gert and Penny Coetzee have spent 66 years building a life together, proving that a lasting marriage can begin with a simple blind date and a decision to face life as a team.

The couple first met in 1958 when Gert, then 21, from Brakpan, and Penny, 19, from Kempton Park, were introduced by a recently married friend who played matchmaker and set them up on a blind date.

Gert was immediately charmed by Penny, and what began as a date soon blossomed into a love story that led to their wedding on October 15, 1960.

The couple now live at the Roodepoort Sentrum vir Bejaardes retirement home.

Working at a bank at the time, Gert knew he wanted to marry Penny but had to arrange his leave before they could make their plans a reality.

“I told her that I would like to marry her, but I needed to take leave from work, and it would only happen in October,” said Gert.

Determined to make it happen, he immediately called a colleague at the same bank and asked him to help apply for a R300 loan to cover their wedding expenses.

With just one month to plan their big day, the couple made every cent count. Having married before the currency changed, their budget was enough to cover the entire wedding, including Penny’s dress, Gert’s suit, the wedding venue, invitations, and even a two-week honeymoon.

“The rush with the wedding raised a few eyebrows, with some people suspecting that we might have been rushing to the altar because of a pregnancy,” said Penny.

However, the couple welcomed their first son six years later, followed by a daughter, and went on to build a family that has since grown to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Looking back on more than six decades together, Gert and Penny say their marriage has been built on honesty, love and a willingness to put their differences aside.

For Gert, the secret to their longevity comes with a healthy dose of humour. “Getting divorced is never an option in our marriage, but we definitely want to kill each other multiple times a day,” he joked.

Behind the laughter is a partnership that has weathered the years, with both recognising that a successful marriage requires effort, understanding and the willingness to work through difficult moments.

As they reflect on their journey, family remains at the heart of everything they have built together. Their advice to younger couples is to communicate openly, discuss problems rather than ignore them, and deliberately make time for family.