Johannesburg (News Of The South) – South African President Jacob Zuma has rubbished local media reports about him being ready to take a fifth wife to accompany him to his old age.
In a statement titled “holiday legends”, the presidency said a journalist from The Star, a leading newspaper, had “misunderstood” a Zulu idiom during the 72-year-old Zuma’s speech.
In the report the newspaper had reported about one visit to a Durban township in Zuma`s home province of KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday, Zuma had said in Zulu “Angakayakhi indlu yokugugela… laba ngisabathathile nje” (I do have wives but I’m yet to marry my last one).
According to The Star most of the people present laughed and cheered.
“The president joked that he did not have “indlu yokugugela” (the home in which I will age in), which the journalist reported as a hint about taking another wife,” said the presidency.
Zuma, who on Sunday said he was in “perfect condition” after a stay in hospital in June, had earlier made a speech about the need to respect and tend for older people.
“Good for him and the wife to be,” said radio presenter Sebenzile Nkambule on Twitter. “Why are people upset? It’s THEIR culture. You don’t like it, don’t be polygamous.”
Zuma currently has 20 children and four wives who are catered for on the state`s budget.
A total of 246 million rand ($21 million, 17 million euro) refurbishments were made to his home, this was paid for with public funds under the guise of “security upgrades”.
“He can marry 10 wives …. but WE, the people, should not have to foot the bill,” commented reader Matt Howard on The Star’s website.
“I do not care if he marries a goat,” said another, “but I am stuffed if he uses my tax money to pay for the reception !!”
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