President Jacob Zuma’s son Edward spared no cost for a lavish wedding party last year but he had to borrow a stainless steel ring for the ceremony because he had no money to pay for the one he had ordered.
Mercury sources on Tuesday confirmed that seven months later the ring, which was loaned to him, just for his one special day, has still not made its way back to the owner. And two of the three rings which had been specially designed and made for the couple, have still not been paid for and collected.
The latest in the junior Zuma’s money woes emerged on Tuesday, a day after the Durban High Court heard that he still owed R1.5 million to the Durban company which had co-ordinated his star-studded fairytale wedding.
The Mercury understands that in October last year Zuma’s fiancée, Phumelele Shange, approached the exclusive jewellery boutique, Mark Gold Jewels on Innes Road in Morningside, to create their wedding bands. She also wanted an engagement ring, and the bill for the three jewels amounted to R250 000.
On Tuesday, the boutique’s owner Dean Gorrie insisted that he could not divulge any details of the transaction because he believed in being discreet about agreements with his clients. However, The Mercury learnt that the Zumas were asked to produce half of the amount as a deposit and about a week later they appeared with R100 000, promising the rest would be paid in due course.
The jewellers had two weeks to make a diamond encrusted wedding band and a sparkling two-and-a-half carat diamond engagement ring set in 18 carat white gold for Shange. For her husband-to-be, she chose an exclusive Mark Gold design which was a diamond studded puzzle ring.
Gorrie, again emphasising client confidentiality, said: “I’m just a small jeweller… I don’t want to be drawn into politics.”
However, Gorrie acknowledged that Zuma and his wife had been their clients and that he had designed their rings.
The Mercury understands that on the night before the wedding Zuma arrived at the jewellery store with another R70 000 in cash in his pockets. He apparently claimed that he was waiting on “foreign funds” and money which was still to be “released”. However, because he still owed R80 000 he only left with Shange’s impressive diamond engagement ring.
His diamond puzzle ring and her diamond encrusted wedding band remained in the shop. The rings were engraved with their names and the wedding date. When pressed for further details Gorrie reluctantly said: “I didn’t release anything that wasn’t paid for. His wedding band which was not paid for was not released.”
The Mercury understands that because Zuma needed a ring for the ceremony, the store loaned him “an entry-level stainless steel band” for the big day. That ring has never been returned. Shange’s wedding band is still on display in the store. However, Gorrie said Zuma’s puzzle ring had been “dismantled”.
“At the end of the day they did me no harm,” he said.
On Tuesday, phone calls to Zuma went unanswered. However, The Mercury managed to get hold of his wife who said she had no idea what we were referring to.
“Unfortunately my husband deals with the media. I’m not allowed to comment but I’m wearing my wedding ring,” said Shange. She said that Edward also had a wedding ring and that we should continue to call him until he could be reached. She ended the call with a “thank you” and then hung up. Kerry Stephenson who also works at the jewellery store said the newlyweds never contacted them again.
Stephenson said she sent several SMSes to Shange asking if they were “coming back for the balance of the jewels”. Shange promised they would be back but made a range of excuses for the delay.
The jewellery store has not taken action against the Zumas.
However, Glenwood-based company, Functions for Africa CC, on Monday asked the court to compel Zuma to pay the R1.5m still owed to it with 15.5 percent interest a year since the date of demand.
Owner Paul Mann said in an affidavit that Edward Zuma and his wife had approached him to “arrange and facilitate their wedding”.
He had quoted them R2.7m for the event which was later reduced to R2.5m. Mann said usually he expected 80 percent of the total as a deposit, but Zuma had only paid R1m. He said despite this he went ahead with the wedding because Shange asked him not to embarrass the couple.
The Mercury