Lungani Zungu
Proud polygamist Jacob Zuma was once a happily married man – but just like his political life, his love life is on the rocks.
During his time as president between 2009 and 2018, he took different wives to different public events.
He would be seen holding hands with his first wife Sizakele Khumalo, or perhaps Nompumelelo Ntuli.
On other days, he would stroll with Thobeka Madiba or the media-shy Bongekile Ngema.
Nompumelelo Ntuli, known as MaNtuli, tied the knot with Zuma in 2008. But in 2015, MaNtuli was thrown out of Zuma’s Nkandla homestead after allegations that she tried to poison him, a claim which she denied.
Last year Thobeka Madiba took him to the Durban Magistrate’s Court for maintenance. The matter was resolved out of court and the pair are still legally married, but their relationship is in the doldrums.
Madiba, who used to rush to Zuma’s defence when he faced any revolt, is nowhere to be seen amid his legal woes that could land him in jail.
Like MaNtuli, she was ejected from the Nkandla homestead after it was reported that Zuma accused her of taking his sim cards containing sensitive information.
She vanished from the public eye after this dramatic episode.
In 2018, Zuma’s secret affair with a 25-year-old KZN woman Nonkanyiso Conco was thrust into the public spotlight after she fell pregnant. Zuma is said to have paid lobola for her, and then she became his fiancée.
This led to her being included in the much-loved Real Housewives of Durban series on 1 Magic.
The show flourished but her relationship with Zuma crumbled and he ejected her from the plush Zimbali house which he rented for her.
Zuma is left with his first and last wives, MaKhumalo and MaNgema.
Last week, the Pietermaritzburg High Court ordered the former president to pay a monthly maintenance of R95,000 to his ex-wife.
Due to a Constitutional Court ruling, the ex-president and his soon to be ex-wife cannot be named. This is after the first lady filed an urgent maintenance application pending the finalisation of their divorce. She wanted R170,000, but the court reduced the amount to R145,000.
