The first wives club now numbers four, with Bongi Ngema-Zuma officially signing on – but don’t rule out the possibility that President Jacob Zuma will wed again.
At his wedding reception at the weekend, the septuagenarian thanked all his wives for supporting him, and indicated there might be another Mrs Zuma on the way.
He said MaNgema should “keep the door open” as she had found it, referring to the fact his other wives had welcomed her into the family.
One door that most certainly was open at the weekend was for many of Zuma’s Nkandla neighbours, who came in numbers for the reception on Friday, as well as the umabo, which began the following afternoon.
Umabo is a traditional ritual where the bride gives the groom gifts to seal the union between the two families. Gifts included beds, a bedroom suite and blankets, and there was a live performance from maskandi group Izingane Zoma.
Those admitted supped and drank royally, with 12 cows slaughtered over the two days.
Speaking to the Daily News outside the marquee where the reception was held, a resident, Solomon Ngcobo, said: “There was more than enough meat – you could eat it till your teeth hurt.
“I have never been so full in my life, my stomach is hurting from eating too much of the meat,” he said.
Ngcobo, who is wheelchair-bound after having been attacked about 10 years ago, said drinks flowed freely too.
As guests arrived at the marquee, many locals stood outside, listening to the formal speeches, which started at about 9pm and went on until midnight, when guests were told, “It’s time to party” by uKhozi FM radio DJ Linda Sibiya, who was MC at the reception.
Zuma’s nephew, Khulubuse, rode a super-sized quad bike for much of the day, making his way into and out of the homestead and reception marquee area, as young boys watched in envy.
Meanwhile, the president’s son, Edward, made it his personal work to eject any journalists or photographers who had managed to get inside the helicopter pad area where the reception was held.
Edward was seen turning away a woman who works with the Bongi Ngema-Zuma Foundation because her daughter had a camera with her.
The woman, Anita Zhu, who is the vice-chairwoman of the SA Chinese Women’s Association, explained to Edward that she worked with the bride and the pictures were for the foundation.
“There is too many of you now, you are like a rugby team. This is not Beijing,” he said to her.
The following day at the umabo, media restrictions became blurry, with police turning away only those journalists they couldn’t recognise from the day before.
Khulubuse, who passed journalists gathered at the entrance of the president’s home, explained to one of the photographers that the president had no problem with reporters covering the umabo, but it was “Edward’s call, he is in charge.”