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SA's Zuma marries his third wife | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has married his third wife. | |
Senior figures from the ruling ANC, the trade union movement and the Communist Party attended a day of festivities alongside his family and friends. | |
Mr Zuma, a Zulu, was meant to marry his fiancee Thobeka Mabhija, 36, last year but the wedding was postponed because of Mr Zuma's political commitments. | |
Correspondents say Mr Zuma's belief in the traditional practice of polygamy has divided South Africans. | |
Some support him but many younger people believe it should have no place in a modern society. | Some support him but many younger people believe it should have no place in a modern society. |
Under Zulu tradition, Mr Zuma's two current wives are supposed to approve of the new wife and attend the wedding ceremony. | Under Zulu tradition, Mr Zuma's two current wives are supposed to approve of the new wife and attend the wedding ceremony. |
It has also emerged that Mr Zuma, 67, is expected to take a fourth wife but no date has been set. | It has also emerged that Mr Zuma, 67, is expected to take a fourth wife but no date has been set. |
His new fiancee, Gloria Bongi Ngema, last week brought umbondo (wedding gifts) to the Zuma family, reports say. | |
This ceremony is the last traditional event before the wedding and is done after ilobolo (dowry) has been paid to the bride's family. | This ceremony is the last traditional event before the wedding and is done after ilobolo (dowry) has been paid to the bride's family. |
Hive of activity | |
On Sunday the president's office released a statement confirming the wedding, saying: "The traditional wedding of President Jacob Zuma and Thobeka Mabhija tomorrow, 4 January, is a private family ceremony." | |
MRS JACOB ZUMA Thobeka Mabhija - married, January 2010Gloria Bongi Ngema, financeeNompumelelo Ntuli - married, January 2008Sizakele Khumalo - married, 1973Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma - divorced, 1998Kate Mantsho Zuma - died, 2000 | |
The office asked journalists to "allow the family the privacy that they are entitled to". | The office asked journalists to "allow the family the privacy that they are entitled to". |
South African media reported that Mr Zuma's home in Nkandla, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, was a hive of activity in the run-up to the ceremony. | South African media reported that Mr Zuma's home in Nkandla, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, was a hive of activity in the run-up to the ceremony. |
Large tents were erected to accommodate guests, some of whom were seen arriving in a number of buses on Monday. | |
Several cows, sheep and goats were slaughtered for the wedding feast. | |
Locals including Mr Zuma were dressed in traditional Zulu attire - mostly made from animal skin. | |
When Mr Zuma was inaugurated as president in May, speculation was rife about who would be the first lady. | When Mr Zuma was inaugurated as president in May, speculation was rife about who would be the first lady. |
He has attended some high-profile events with all his wives, including Ms Mabhija. | He has attended some high-profile events with all his wives, including Ms Mabhija. |
Mr Zuma, who has 19 children - three with Ms Mabhija - paid ilobolo to the Mabhija family two years ago. | |
It is his fifth wedding - he married his first wife Sizakele Khumalo-Zuma in 1973, and his second wife, Nompumelelo Ntuli-Zuma, two years ago. | |
He is also divorced from Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. | He is also divorced from Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. |
One of his earlier wives, Kate Mantsho-Zuma, died in 2000. | One of his earlier wives, Kate Mantsho-Zuma, died in 2000. |