Much has been said and written about Jacob Zuma's wives and his impending nuptials. Independent Newspapers learnt this week that although the Presidency was ready to accommodate Zuma and his large family, the ANC president was the sort of candidate medical schemes try to avoid.
With four wives - and two more to come - and a total of 18 children, medical aid schemes lose out when they insure a polygamist.
South Africans are only allowed one civil union, but are allowed to have more than one customary marriage. If they have more than one legal husband or wife, they face prosecution.
In 2000, The Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, 120 of 1998, came into force giving full legal recognition to customary marriages for the first time in South Africa.
But choosing more than one wife, in accordance with this law, has conditions. Prospective spouses must both be above 18 years, must both consent to be married to each other under customary law and the marriage must be negotiated and entered into or celebrated in accordance with customary law.
In Zuma's case, with regards to his future marriages, he would also get written consent from all his other wives and then get approval from a court which will regulate the future matrimonial property system of his marriages.
According to legislation, medical schemes are not allowed to charge members for more than three children, although they must still cover the medical expenses of the remaining children. Based on published medical aid tariffs, Zuma would pay about R10 000 for himself, his four wives and three children. The rest will be free.
It is now clear that Zuma will be South Africa's next President, but it is unclear how the Presidency will look after his huge first family. Traditionally, the President and his family take up residence in official homes, receive round-the-clock security among many other perks. But with possibly 24 family members this could be a logistical nightmare.
However government spokesperson Thabo Masebe said the incoming President would decide who in his family would live in official residences and government would "look after everyone in the President's family".
"We can't dictate to the President how he should organise his life. But we do have systems in place to accommodate his family - no matter how many people it consists of," Masebe said.
It has been revealed that Zuma planned to marry a fifth and sixth wife soon, prompting commentators to say contrary to the ANC's contentions, reporting on Zuma's nuptials is of public interest.
They however disagree on where public interest ends and Zuma's privacy begins.
- Zuma met Sizakele Khumalo in 1959. She lives at his rural R1,5-million home at Nkandla. They have no children;
- Ex-wife Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has four children with Zuma. They divorced in June 1998 due to "irreconcilable differences";
- The late Kate Zuma had five children with Zuma. She committed suicide on December 8, 2000 after strained relations with Zuma;
- Zuma has two children with Nompumelelo MaNtuli Zuma - whom he married in January last year;
- Thobeka Stacey Mabhija has two children with Zuma.
- Mrs Jacob Zuma number six? - Bongi Ngema - from Umlazi, has a seven-month-old son. The wedding is planned for some time this year;
- Minah Shongwe - who is Zuma's old flame, is the sister of Judge Jeremiah Shongwe; and
- Zuma also paid half lobola for Swazi Princess Sebentile Dlamini, 38, the granddaughter of King Sobhuza III, in 2002, but nothing has come of it.
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