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South Africa's polygamous President Jacob Zuma married for the sixth time on Friday, taking his long-time girlfriend Bongi Ngema as his newest bride and fourth current wife in a private ceremony at his rural home.
| South African President Jacob Zuma (L) and his wife Bongi Ngema cut the wedding
cake during their wedding ceremony in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,
April 20, 2012. Zuma married his fourth wife Bongi Ngema on Friday, his office
announced. (Xinhua/Liang Quan) |
Ngema, an activist and former information technology worker, is well known in South Africa and has already accompanied the president on foreign visits.
The ceremony raised few eyebrows in a country where polygamy is legal and an integral part of Zuma's Zulu culture.
The two had a traditional Zulu wedding and "the bride and groom later participated in the traditional competitive celebratory dance," the presidency said in a statement.
Zuma has 21 children, including a seven-year-old son with Ngema.
The president is also married to Sizakele Zuma, Nompumelelo Ntuli-Zuma and Tobeka Madiba-Zuma. They all attended the ceremony.
His marriage to Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma ended in divorce. Another wife Kate Mantsho-Zuma committed suicide in 2000.
There is no official position of First Lady in South Africa. The presidency said none of the wives had a constitutional role or received any state funds.
| Members of South African President Jacob Zuma's family perform traditional dance
during Zuma's wedding ceremony at his home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa, April 20, 2012. Zuma married his fourth wife Bongi Ngema on Friday, his
office announced. (Xinhua/Liang Quan) | South African President Jacob Zuma and his wife Bongi Ngema touch each other's
hand during their wedding ceremony in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,
April 20,2012. Zuma married his fourth wife Bongi Ngema on Friday, his office
announced. (Xinhua/Liang Quan) |
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| South African President Jacob Zuma (C) attends his wedding ceremony in traditional
costume at his home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, April 20, 2012. Zuma
married his fourth wife Bongi Ngema on Friday, his office announced.
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