President Jacob Zuma married his long-time fiancé Bongi Ngema on Saturday 21 April. The ceremony, known as umgcagco, took place at the President’s home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.
The entire village was palpable with joy as the villagers couldn’t hide their joy to as they eagerly waited to witness yet another presidential wedding.
President JZ and his new wife later participated in a traditional competitive celebratory dance (ukugqumushela) by the ikhetho (groom's party) led by the groom (JZ) and the ithimba (bridal side) led by the bride (Bongs).
The wedding reception was held on Saturday and yesterday, where umabo took place, and the bride showered the groom's family with gifts.
The President's three wives Mrs Sizakele Khumalo-Zuma, Mrs Nompumelelo Ntuli-Zuma and Mrs Thobeka Madiba-Zuma attended the event.
President JZ and Bongs have a seven-year old son, Sinqumo.
“The new Mrs Zuma had already been part of the spousal office machinery in terms of administrative support so there will be no changes due to the wedding”, a media release by the controversial Presidential Spokesperson Mac Maharaj reads.
The City Press reports: “Ngema hails from Umlazi township, south of Durban, and has numerous qualifications, including a business degree.”
At the wedding, First Daughters could be seen having a ball at their dad’s wedding.
President Zuma was also married to home affairs Minister Nkosasana Dlamini-Zuma but their union ended in 1998 and the President’s other wife committed suicide in 2000.
The media was barred from attending the wedding and wasn’t allowed to take pictures with powers that be claiming the Presidential wedding is a private affair and has got nothing to do with the public.
What about public interest? I ask myself! Phela this is our President we are talking about.
Nevertheless, we are so happy for him that all went well and we wish the newlyweds a wedded bliss and may they be blessed with more love, joy, happiness and many children.
I understands the President and his new bride will not be going on honeymoon yet as the President still has to attend to matters that involve administering the country and try to build prosperity for all.
Those who are well known for thriving on being Presidential critics are these time around silenced as JZ “paid for the expenses from his own pocket and no state money was used”, said Mac Maharaj.
Mac said reports in the media suggesting the state bore the maintenance costs of Zuma’s wives was incorrect, reads an article on the City Press online.
“The spouses pay their own living or household expenses, be it food, mortgages, lights, water and so forth. Nothing is paid for by the State in the four households of the spouses. They live in private homes,” he said.
The article goes further to state: “The presidency did provide logistical and administrative support for spouse participation at state and official functions and provided a total of 60 domestic economy class flights per a year for child and child-minder travel. Transport costs for school-going children were also included.”
Otherwise, the living expenses of Zuma’s children were borne by the family and not the state, Maharaj said.
May the President enjoy loving his new wife and the other three wives. We wish him all the best in loving all of them as experience from us young stars shows loving just one woman is a mission and a half!