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South African President Takes 3rd Wife In Zulu Ceremony

By Howard M. Friedman

South African President Jacob Zuma yesterday married his third wife in a traditional Zulu ceremony, according to the London Guardian. The Zulu tribe practices polygamy by tradition, and it is recognized under South African law. South Africa's Constitution (Sec.31) protects the cultural practices of Zulus and other groups. Zuma's new wife is Tobeka Madiba, described as a socialite from Durban. Zuma apparently has fathered three children with Madiba. The 67-year old Zuma is also planning to add yet another wife before long. Gloria Bongi Ngema, who now works for IBM in Johannesburg and who has a child by Zuma, presented umbondo (gifts) to the Zuma family last week, customarily a precursor to marriage. The Johannesburg Times yesterday reported that Christian Democratic Party leader Rev. Theunis Botha strongly criticized Zuma, saying that Zuma's "alarming return to ancestral worship is a giant step back into the dark ages."

Full post as published by Religion Clause on January 05, 2010 (boomark / email).