South Africa's New President to Bring All His Wives to Inauguration

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25450262-32682,00.htm...

Bruce Loudon | May 09, 2009
Article from: The Australian

SOUTH Africa's polygamous new president Jacob Zuma finally confronted his "which wife" dilemma last night and announced that all three, together with his 19 children and a divorced former wife, will attend his spectacular inauguration ceremony this weekend.

His decision to "bring 'em all" came as a leading Johannesburg newspaper conducted an online poll in which readers were asked whether Mr Zuma should take his "city wife or country wife" to the inauguration which will be attended by more than 5000 guests, including leaders from across the world.

One respondent replied to The Star's website: "JZ, be fair. Take the lot and all the girlfriends as well. That is only fair and will stop a lot of domestics later. Might be very costly and put a strain on the blue light (police) brigade, but what the hell. Alleviation of poverty can wait."

Polygamy is legal in South Africa and Mr Zuma, a Zulu traditionalist who often dresses in leopard skins and is an exponent of Zulu war dances, has spoken of his love for all his wives and children.

His spokesman, Zizi Kodwa, answered weeks of mounting speculation about which wife would become the country's new first lady by saying that all three officially acknowledged wives would attend the inauguration. "He will be accompanied by his three spouses and children," the official said. "He has also invited relatives from all corners of the country."

Mr Kodwa said it was unclear if all three wives would stand next to Mr Zuma when he took the formal oath of office administered by the chief justice on the steps of the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the national capital, before serried ranks of national and foreign dignitaries.

A former wife, foreign minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, will also be at the ceremony. There has been intense speculation about whether she will retain her post when Mr Zuma announces his cabinet.

A glittering, no-expense-spared inauguration has been planned to celebrate the accession to supreme power of the former goat herder who has no formal education. Details disclosed last night indicate that a sumptuous meal far removed from Zulu tribal traditions has been prepared for the guests. It will include free-flowing Dom Perignon costing R1700 ($267) a bottle.

Guests, who will include Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, will be entertained by the Grammy award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir and a 40-piece orchestra playing Bach and Vivaldi.

Last night Mugabe's presence at the inauguration was targeted by a human rights group that was putting up "Mugabe Go Home" posters on lamp posts close to the site of the ceremony. "It is a bitter irony that a human rights violator like Robert Mugabe is welcome in South Africa with open arms," Kallie Kriel, a spokesman for the group Afriforum, said.

Meanwhile, in an embarrassing development on the eve of the inauguration, a US government report has lashed out at South Africa's Department of Home Affairs over its fight against terrorism, complaining that corrupt officials had issued of thousands of fraudulent passports, identity documents and work permits.

The US assessment, published on the State Department's website, says that "border security challenges, socio-cultural attitudes and document fraud negatively affected the (South African) Government's ability and efforts to pursue and intervene in counter-terrorism initiatives".

The report appeared just 400 days before South Africa is due to host the soccer World Cup.