CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – 3 June 2009: President Jacob Zuma presents his State of the Nation Address at a joint sitting of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces at Parliament. Pictured here is Zuma and his wives, from L to R: Nompumelelo Ntuli, Thobeka Mabhija, Jacob Zuma and Sizakele Khumalo. (Photo by Gallo Images/Nardus Engelbrecht)
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – 3 June 2009: President Jacob Zuma presents his State of the Nation Address at a joint sitting of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces at Parliament. Pictured here is Zuma and his wives, from L to R: Nompumelelo Ntuli, Thobeka Mabhija, Jacob Zuma and Sizakele Khumalo. (Photo by Gallo Images/Nardus Engelbrecht)
It’s nice to know where your tax money is going. So when the ANC’s Jackson Mthembu lifted the lid on how much Jacob Zuma’s wives cost taxpayer on Wednesday, it served as an eyeopener for us all.
Detailing the expenses of our former presidents since 2016, it was discovered that The Real Housewives of Nkandla are taking the state for millions of rand on an annual basis. Leon Schreiber of the DA posed the question to Mthembu, settling a long and arduous debate on the matter.
How much do Jacob Zuma’s wives cost the taxpayer?
We know Jacob Zuma has enjoyed some pretty decent perks of the job, and the same goes for his harem of partners. Listed under “travel and other expenses”, Jacob Zuma’s wives didn’t weigh too heavily on the taxpayers’ tab in the last year of his presidency – only R70 227 of public money went towards them.
However, in the financial year after Zuma was booted from office (2018/19), they ratcheted the spending right up. It’s estimated they spent R4 million of state funds over a 12 month period. Once Msholozi had lost his power, it seems he gave his wives the green light to raid the public coffers.
However, in the current financial year, R2.4m has gone towards Jacob Zuma’s wives. In total, they have set the taxpayer back R6.47 million over the past three years – money that would have made a difference in healthcare, education or housing.
List of Jacob Zuma’s wives
(* – Indicates who is currently married to Zuma)
- Sizakele Khumalo*
- Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
- Kate Mansho
- Nompumelelo Ntuli*
- Gloria Bongekile Ngema*
- Thobeka Stacie Madiba*
Our very own Henry VIII
The number of Jacob Zuma’s wives still with him stands at four. Dlamini-Zuma divorced him back in 1998. His relationship with Kate Matsho however, was unspeakably sad. She took her own life in December 2000, after 24 years of marriage. It’s estimated he has between 20-22 children in total – 15 with his spouses, and between 5-7 with other lovers.
Only one (un)lucky lady has never taken the plunge with the president. Swazi princess Sebentile Dlamini – Granddaughter of King Sobhuza III – is merely engaged to him.
In 2002, Zuma paid ten cows as part of lobola for Sebentile Dlamini, a Swazi princess and granddaughter of King Sobhuza III. However, JZ may have got cold feet on this one. He never went through with a ceremony. In 2018, it was revealed that he had got engaged to Nonkanyiso Conco, and a wedding is expected soon.
