This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7813646.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Zuma 'seeks to take third wife' | Zuma 'seeks to take third wife' |
| (5 days later) | |
| South Africa's ruling African National Congress says there is "nothing sinister" in its leader Jacob Zuma wishing to take a third wife. | South Africa's ruling African National Congress says there is "nothing sinister" in its leader Jacob Zuma wishing to take a third wife. |
| Local media have reported that his fiancee, Thobeka Mabhija, has made a traditional gift to his family, as part of the wedding preparations. | Local media have reported that his fiancee, Thobeka Mabhija, has made a traditional gift to his family, as part of the wedding preparations. |
| Mr Zuma married his second wife in January last year. | Mr Zuma married his second wife in January last year. |
| He is the strong favourite to become South Africa's next president, after elections due in the coming months. | He is the strong favourite to become South Africa's next president, after elections due in the coming months. |
| Correspondents say it is common for leaders in Mr Zuma's Zulu community to have more than one wife. | Correspondents say it is common for leaders in Mr Zuma's Zulu community to have more than one wife. |
| 'Private matter' | 'Private matter' |
| After initially denying the reports of a new wedding, the ANC on Tuesday issued a new statement which reads: "We see nothing sinister in Comrade Zuma wishing to enter into matrimony in line with African customary and traditional practice." | After initially denying the reports of a new wedding, the ANC on Tuesday issued a new statement which reads: "We see nothing sinister in Comrade Zuma wishing to enter into matrimony in line with African customary and traditional practice." |
| MRS JACOB ZUMA Thobeka Mabhija - fianceeNompumelelo Ntuli - married, January 2008Sizakele Khumalo - married, 1973Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma - divorced, 1998Kate Mantsho Zuma - died, 2000 The statement also stresses that it is a private matter. | |
| The Mercury newspaper reports that the family of Ms Mabhija, 34, delivered gifts including a goat, sheep and vegetables to Mr Zuma's family home, as part of the Zulu umbondo tradition ahead of a wedding. | The Mercury newspaper reports that the family of Ms Mabhija, 34, delivered gifts including a goat, sheep and vegetables to Mr Zuma's family home, as part of the Zulu umbondo tradition ahead of a wedding. |
| This will be the fifth time Mr Zuma, 66, has been married. | |
| He wed Nompumelelo Ntuli a year ago and has been married to Sizakele Khumalo since 1973. | He wed Nompumelelo Ntuli a year ago and has been married to Sizakele Khumalo since 1973. |
| He is divorced from Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, while Kate Mantsho Zuma died in 2000. | He is divorced from Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, while Kate Mantsho Zuma died in 2000. |
| Mr Zuma was acquitted of rape in 2006 and still faces corruption charges. | Mr Zuma was acquitted of rape in 2006 and still faces corruption charges. |
| His supporters say his legal problems are part of a political plot to prevent him becoming president. | His supporters say his legal problems are part of a political plot to prevent him becoming president. |