Now that President Jacob Zuma has tied the customary knot for the third time, we can’t help wondering: who will win the the Number One First Lady contest?
Can anyone practice polygamy? How will new wife Thobeka Madiba’s life change now that she’s official? The Mail & Guardian finds out
This week’s nuptials of President Jacob Zuma may have been a cultural formality, but for the new Mrs Thobeka Madiba Zuma, officially being part of the presidential family will usher in a whole new way of life.
KaMadiba, as she is now called, will have a secretary and administrative support for her volunteer work in health matters, as arranged by the spousal support unit in the presidency.
In this perk she joins Zuma’s other wives, Sizakele Khumalo and Nompumelelo Ntuli.
Last year the presidency advertised several positions for beefing up the spousal office as part of the overhaul of the presidency’s administrative structure.
The presidency refused to divulge the overall budget for this unit or how it may have grown with the number of Zuma’s wives. But a vacancy advertisement posted by the presidency in 2009 shows that personal assistants for each wife were sought, offering a salary of R145Â 920 a year.
The ad stated the assistant would “prepare, present and manage information for the spouse”. The successful candidate would be expected to provide basic research and events management support where required.
For KaMadiba and hers there will also be no more doctors’ bills, lift clubs or expensive air tickets. Their travel, medical aid and security will be taken care of by the presidency, but Zuma will have to foot the bill for all other expenses, such as school fees.
School-going children get free rides and six domestic flights a year. The whole family will go on to Zuma’s medical aid and security guards will be dispatched when needed.
Built into Zuma’s salary is an annual allowance of R225Â 400, with which he is expected to run a private home, and R563 000, with which he can buy a private vehicle. This would be for the use of his family because, for security reasons, the president always travels in government vehicles.
The wives receive no separate allowance and are ordinarily not gainfully employed.
The three wives will undertake community work — MaKhumalo runs a vegetable garden in Nkandla and maNtuli works with orphans. The spousal office is meant to provide administrative support to the spouses of the president and the deputy president.
It formerly also provided support for businessman Bulelani Ngcuka, husband of former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Thabo Mbeki’s wife, Zanele, used the office to create opportunities for women’s groups to visit seats of government and historic institutions. Mlambo-Ngcuka’s husband championed a human rights programme in addition to getting sponsorship for the refurbishment of the Victoria Hospital.
In a statement released this week following questions by the Mail & Guardian the presidency said the number of spouses the president takes on official trips is up to him — he can take one or all of them if he chooses.
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