Cape Town — The rise to power of South Africa's first polygamous head of state in the modern era* is causing confusion in the media, and the office of President Jacob Zuma is now trying to set them straight.
Responding to a rash of reports arising from Zuma's wedding last week to his newest wife, Tobeka Madiba-Zuma, the presidency issued a statement on Wednesday seeking, as it put it, to "clarify a few points":
- South Africa's Constitution and public service regulations make no formal provision for "a First Lady or First Ladies."
- President Zuma will be accompanied to official or public engagements by any of his current wives, "or all of them at the same time should he so decide. This is his prerogative."
- Zuma has three wives, not five, as "incorrect media reports" have stated. They are: Sizakele Khumalo (referred to by Zulu and wider African custom as MaKhumalo), Nompumelelo Ntuli (MaNtuli) and Tobeka Madiba (KaMadiba).
- In addition, the president "has a fiancée, Ms. Bongi Ngema."
The reference to incorrect reports appears to relate to coverage which numbers among Zuma's wives Kate Zuma, who died in 2000, and Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the Home Affairs minister, to whom Zuma was previously married.
And the reference to the status of a "First Lady" may have something to do with a report in a national tabloid, The Times, claiming there is "bickering between MaNtuli and Mabhija (sic) about who should become first lady..."
The presidency also spelled out for the first time the nature of the work in which Zuma's wives are interested:
- "MaKhumalo's area of interest is agriculture and food security, and she runs a vegetable garden project in Nkandla" (the president's home village in rural KwaZulu-Natal);
- "KaMadiba has a special interest in health matters, especially work relating to the fight against cervical cancer;" and
- "MaNtuli's focus is in social development, and she does a lot of work relating to assisting orphans and vulnerable children."
The presidency's statement even sought to educate those backroom journalists whose task it is to correct reporters' mistakes and write headlines.
"Note to subs" (sub-editors), it said: "In the isiZulu culture, married or adult women whose surnames begin with 'Ma' automatically inherit the prefix 'Ka' instead of 'Ma' to avoid tautology, which is why Ms. Madiba-Zuma is not referred to as 'MaMadiba'."
It's not only South Africa's journalists who are being challenged to develop a new sensitivity to Zulu and African culture. The Times reported that London's Guardian newspaper "made an amusing faux pas" in reporting that Zuma slipped and fell during a solo dance at the traditional Zulu wedding ceremony.
Zuma had in fact been performing a traditional indlamu dance, said The Times. "Traditionally, an indlamu dancer makes a series of warrior gestures and stomps the ground before dramatically falling onto his buttocks."
* The modern South African state was formed from two British colonies and two Boer republics a century ago in 1910.
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Hey laws are laws but then we wonder why we allow such leaders in office that practice this and you think what is next well you never know but I promise you it will not be good so Zuma can try to justify what he does to whoever he wants but it will not get to far well at least outside of Africa!
" .. why we allow such leaders in office that practice this .."
Should we assume that you do not approve of polygamy?
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"allow"?
Gosh, silly chap, Zuma was ELECTED into office - which should suggest to you that a majority of his people approve of, or at least are not bothered by, what seems to bother you. Do you mind?
Should we assume that you do not embrace elections and democracy? Would you rather choose who leads and who does not?
Not all South Africans - especially those in diaspora - could make it to the happy event.
Information and video about this happy occassion are few and hard to come by. If some british official or king wedded - or attended a wedding - video and information about the occassion would drown us online - even using posting tools freely or cheaply available online.. And SA media would not be left behind.
Notch another failure to the native journalists and local media in South Africa. [They want to be in charge of their affairs. Still under the influence nad legacy of an inferiority complex?]
Here is a clip I came by:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnObD7y5OSg
The occassion was well attended by (supposed) natives (and avaZulu) in the media. Can we get more video cliops of similar calibre from the South Africans by the South Africans - in isiZulu, isiXhosa or any of the indeginous languages, of course?
[unless the brainwashed natives in the SA media would rather post video on foreign weddings - in English ..]
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This is deeply depressing in other ways:
This communique is eerie - like the feeeling one would get if the british regime found it necessary to expalin the customs of the british to the british press!
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The struggle continues
PRESIDENT ZUMA is not deserved to be president of one of africa big economy country .he made things worst by keeping one in name of fiancee ,this is a radical man.nothing to learn from that old man that think he is getting younger.his style of living cannot help already batterd continent due to wicked and selfish leadership mind.
"PRESIDENT ZUMA is not deserved to be president of one of africa big economy country ".
So, what do you wish to tell us, weird rhodie? 1) An ovewrwhelming majority of the people of South AFrica who voted for Zuma were duped or perhaps not as wise as you ar?
2) That you wouldn't be bothererd if a country whose economy is small have a leader you don't admire?
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" .. nothing to learn from that old man that think he is getting younger."
Buddy, go to school if you wish to learn.
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" .. already batterd continent due to wicked and selfish leadership mind. .."
I wonder why whites, when they are kicked out of the continent, fight tooth and nail to sneak their way back into such a bad continent.
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