South Africa: President to Marry Again

Johannesburg — President Jacob Zuma is to marry his long-time fiance, Bongi Ngema, next weekend, the Sunday Times reported in its early edition on Saturday evening.

The president's spokesman, Mac Maharaj, confirmed to the newspaper that the president would formalise his relationship with Ngema at a private traditional ceremony in Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal.

Ngema will be Zuma's fourth wife. His other wives are Sizakele Khumalo, Nompumelelo Zuma and Thobeka Stacey Mabhija.

He divorced home affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in 1998 while another wife, Kate Zuma, committed suicide in 2000.

The president has a three-year-old son with Ngema. His bride-to-be has already accompanied him on a diplomatic trip to France.

Ngema hails from Umlazi township, south of Durban and has numerous qualifications including a business degree.

The president celebrated his 70th birthday on Friday where Ngema and Zuma's three wives were on hand to help him cut a R12500 birthday cake.

The Sunday Times said the president's Nkandla homestead had been given a R64 million upgrade that included six new double-storey thatch rondavels for his wives and family.