Polokwane - Jacob Zuma was elected leader of the ruling African National
Congress on Tuesday, defeating President Thabo Mbeki.
Here are some key facts about Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, born April 12 1942:
Zuma was South Africa's deputy president for six years before his sacking in 2005 by President Thabo Mbeki after he was implicated in a graft trial that saw his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik convicted on fraud and corruption charges.
Zuma was also charged with graft, but the case was thrown out on a technicality but a high court ruling in November 2007 cleared the way for evidence to be used against him in any future prosecution.
Zuma was acquitted of rape charges in May 2006 as well.
A former member of the ANC's military wing, Zuma rose through the ranks to become head of intelligence in the party, a post that gave him leverage over allies and opponents alike.
Like Nelson Mandela, he was imprisoned on Robben Island for conspiring to overthrow white rule, spending 10 years in jail before going into exile.
Earthy and approachable, the ethnic Zulu from KwaZulu-Natal has earned respect as a peacemaker at home, mediating between the ANC and the Zulu-dominated Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) at the height of violence in the early 1990s to head off a possible civil war.
Zuma's position in the ANC strikes a tribal balance in an organisation perceived to be dominated by leaders from the Xhosa tribe of Mandela and Mbeki.
Zuma received no formal schooling. He was formerly married to South Africa's current Foreign Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
South African President Jacob Zuma is a polygamist who has been married five times and has 20 children.
He married his first wife Sizakele Khumalo in 1973. She lives at his home in Natal
He divorced his second wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in 1998, though she still serves as a politician in his government...
A third wife, Kate Mantsho, committed suicide in 2000
Mr Zuma married for a fourth time in January 2008 to his 33-year-old sweetheart Nompumelelo Ntuli...
Zuma arrived in the UK with his fifth wife, Thobeka
Jacob Zuma and 3 wives
Zuma's wives are each entitled to a personal assistant, a post worth R145 920.00 per year. Air travel, medical expenses and security costs for the spouses are also borne by the state.
He is engaged to 45-year-old Gloria Bongekile Ngema, with whom he has one child, and has an adult son with Minah Shongwe.
The Sunday Times reported that he fathered a love-child with the daughter of soccer boss Irvin Khoza.All the president's men were mum about the baby girl, reportedly born to Sonono Khoza, 39, on October 8 last year.
Sonono Khoza
Irvin KhozaSTATEMENT BY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA ON MEDIA REPORTS ABOUT HIS CHILD
I have noted recent media reports about aspects of my personal life.
I have noted too that these reports have been the subject of much discussion in the public arena by various organisations and people from all walks of life.
I have therefore decided, after some careful deliberation, to make public comment on a matter that is otherwise intensely personal. I had been out of the country when this matter arose.
I confirm that I have a relationship and a baby with Ms Sonono Khoza. I said during World Aids Day that we must all take personal responsibility for our actions. I have done so. I have done the necessary cultural imperatives in a situation of this nature, for example the formal acknowledgement of paternity and responsibility, including the payment of inhlawulo to the family. The matter is now between the two of us, and culturally, between the Zuma and Khoza families.
It is unfortunate that the individuals concerned have been unfairly subjected to harsh media exposure merely because of the position that I occupy. Our Constitution and our laws require us to protect children from harmful public exposure. The Constitution states that it is inappropriate to place at risk, the child’s well-being, physical or mental health, spiritual, moral or social development.
Both the Child Care Act and the new Children’s Act also provides for the protection of children from exploitation. The naming of the child’s parents has essentially exposed her to the public, which has serious implications in the long-term for her, and amounts to the exploitation referred to in the Act, because the media is making money out of the matter.
The media is also in essence questioning the right of the child to exist and fundamentally, her right to life. It is unfortunate that the matter has been handled in this way. I sincerely hope that the media will protect the rights of children.
Much has been made of the government’s policy on HIV and Aids and this relationship. It is mischievous to argue that I have changed or undermined government’s stance on the HIV and Aids campaign. I will not compromise on the campaign. Rather we will intensify our efforts to promote prevention, treatment, research and the fight against the stigma, attached to the epidemic. We will also continue with our campaign to ensure that every South African knows their HIV status, and that all those who need it have access to appropriate treatment.
We respect and uphold the freedom of the media. It is one of the freedoms we fought for, and which we will always defend. However, the President of the Republic, the mother and the baby are also entitled to the rights afforded to all South Africans in the Constitution. These rights cannot be waived just because of a position one occupies.
I would request that the dignity and privacy of the affected individuals in this matter be respected.
Issued by the Presidency
Union Buildings
There you have it. From the horses mouth.
http://www.google.co.za/imgres?imgurl=http://lifeissavage.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/zuma.jpg&imgrefurl=http://lifeissavage.com/%3Fp%3D4470&usg=__uVrn5bA4nkSTdyo7jK0u7zHoMgU=&h=495&w=300&sz=30&hl=en&start=6&itbs=1&tbnid=Zks8wqlIKVnbmM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=79&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djacob%2Bzuma%2Bpictures%26hl%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1
The Sunday Times reported that the child, Thandekile Matina, was given Zuma's surname and was registered as his daughter. He now has 20 children.
MaNtuli owes domestic worker thousands
South Africa's first lady Nompumelelo Ntuli-Zuma has been found guilty of unlawfully dismissing her domestic worker and must cough up R16 000, Ilanga reported yesterday.
The presidency, meanwhile, went to ground again yesterday when asked for comment.
Ilanga reported that MaNtuli did not pay Sbongile Doris Ngobese the full salary they had agreed on. Nor had she followed the correct procedure in dismissing her.
The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration gave MaNtuli 14 days to backpay Ngobese R16 000 for eight months of her outstanding R2 000 a month salary.
Ilanga reported that the commission had asked that MaNtuli attend the hearing and give her side.
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