And He Does It Again …

South Africa’s President Jacob – Jay Z – Zuma may not quite make it into the Guinness Book of World Records as “the most married person in the world” (this title is currently held by American grandmother Linda Wolfe who tied the knot 23 times), but he certainly is on track to beat Elizabeth Taylor and her eight marriages.

Jay Z has chosen this special day, my one-year anniversary in South Africa and I am convinced that this is no coincidence, to marry wife number five in a traditional Zulu ceremony at his homestead in Natal. Just as he said “Yes” to Tobeka Madiba, the press announced that traditional wedding presents have been made and received by another woman, whom Zuma is expected to make his sixth wife early next year…


Here’s a few opinions from various newspapers on Zuma’s latest strike…

From the UK’s The Guardian
“Jacob Zuma to Wed South Africa's Third First Lady”

Jacob Zuma, the polygamous president of South Africa, is to gain his third first lady in a traditional Zulu wedding on Monday.

Zuma, 67, will marry Tobeka Madiba in a private family ceremony at his homestead in rural KwaZulu-Natal province. Madiba, 36, will be Zuma's third current wife and his fifth marriage overall. He is also reported to be engaged to another woman.

The Zulu tribe, the biggest ethnic group in South Africa, practises polygamy by tradition. Zuma once told an interviewer: "There are plenty of politicians who have mistresses and children that they hide so as to pretend they're monogamous. I prefer to be open. I love my wives and I'm proud of my children."

The wedding is scheduled for 6am local time and goats and sheep have been slaughtered for the feast. Madiba, with whom Zuma has three children, will become South Africa's third first lady, joining Sizakele Khumalo, whom Zuma has known for 50 years, and Nompumelelo Ntuli, whom he married two years ago.

There were two further wives who are no longer with him. He divorced Nkosazana Dlamini in 1998 and Kate Mantsho killed herself in 2000, after describing her marriage to him as "24 years of hell". Zuma is said to have as many as 19.

South African law recognises multiple marriages, although fewer young South Africans are entering into them because they are seen as expensive and old-fashioned. The cultural practices of Zulus and other groups are protected by the constitution.


From South Africa’s Business Day
“Zuma Proves to Be a Man of Many Parts”

Zuma has already begun traditional processes ahead of what is expected to be another marriage, but today it will be the turn of Thobeka Mabhija, with whom Zuma has three children.

SA’s political elite will throng to the Zuma homestead at Nkandla for what is expected to be a lavish traditional wedding. Busloads of neighbours are also due to feast on cows, goats and sheep, slaughtered for the ceremony.

The wedding bells have left political analysts marvelling at Zuma’s chutzpah in taking more wives when his traditional lifestyle was among the reasons why his Presidency was initially viewed with trepidation. But the script has certainly not panned out as expected, since Zuma, in office for eight months, has so far won over critics of his suitability for high office. In November last year, his approval rating was 58%, up from 53% in September.

Zuma’s private life challenges the traditional strictures of protocol, but resonates with the black working class. Voters in SA do not make their decisions on the basis of politicians’ personal lives. Chances are that another wedding is unlikely to dent Zuma’s popularity.


And finally from a South African Organisation for Women’s Rights
“The Paradox of Jacob Zuma”

Jacob Zuma’s recent polygamous marriage has once again ignited dialogue concerning the balance between the South Africa’s ancient heritage and its current drive towards social reform. While traditionalists have stood by the politician’s decision to embrace Zulu culture, many progressives and feminists have been outraged by the way in which the President conducts his private life.

By its very nature polygamy sits uneasily with calls for gender equality. When a man takes multiple wives this may lead to a situation whereby women become little more than appendages to their husbands. Such inequality is particularly worrying when seen in the household of the leader of the country.

One may also wonder why Mr. Zuma feels the need to marry again. He has repeatedly championed his first wife, yet his marriage to a much younger woman described as a ‘Durban socialite’ raises questions: Has Mr. Zuma chosen a new, more youthful and attractive wife because he considers her to be a more suitable public figure? If so, are these really the qualities that a leader should focus upon?

This is not the first time that Mr. Zuma’s opinions of women have been called into question. Whilst on trial for rape he stated in his defence that the plaintiff was wearing a provocative traditional wrap-around skirt and that in Zulu culture it is a crime for a man to let a sexually aroused woman go unfulfilled.

The history and heritage of a nation should not be ignored, but the honouring of cultural practices must never be used as an excuse for the promotion of inequality.