All of Jacob Zuma’s wives and ex-wives are shown in photos (Opinion)

Former South African president Jacob Zuma is well known for practising polygamy in line with Zulu tradition. Over the years he has been married to several women. Here is an overview of his wives and former wives based on publicly available information.

Gertrude Sizakele Khumalo (MaKhumalo)  

She is widely regarded as Zuma’s first and senior wife. They met in the late 1950s and married in 1973 after his release from prison. The couple have no children together. MaKhumalo has long been associated with the family homestead at Nkandla and is known for her low public profile and community work through the Sizakhele MaKhumalo Zuma Foundation.

A prominent politician and medical doctor, she married Zuma in the 1970s or early 1980s while both were in exile. They had four children together before divorcing in 1998. She later served in several high-profile government positions, including Minister of Health, Minister of Home Affairs, and Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

Originally from Mozambique, she married Zuma in 1976. The couple had five children, including the twins Duduzane and Duduzile Zuma. Kate Mantsho died in December 2000 at the age of 44 from an overdose of medication. Her death was ruled a suicide.

Zuma married her in January 2008. They have three children. In later years she faced allegations of attempting to poison him, which she strongly denied. The National Prosecuting Authority did not pursue charges. The couple are reported to have become estranged, and she no longer lives at the Nkandla homestead.

Thobeka Madiba (also known as Thobeka Mabhija)  

She married Zuma in a traditional ceremony in January 2010. The couple have children together. In later years she was reported to be estranged from Zuma and at one point sought maintenance payments through the courts. She has also been involved in business and charity work.

Gloria Bongekile Ngema (Bongi Ngema-Zuma)  

Zuma married her in 2012. She is the mother of his son Sinqumo. For a period she was regarded as one of the wives closest to him. Reports later linked the purchase of a Pretoria property associated with her to the Gupta family, though details remain part of broader public debates around state capture.

Zuma was also engaged at different times to other women, including Nonkanyiso Conco (known as LaConco), a media personality. That relationship ended and they did not marry.

Zuma’s personal life has often attracted public attention because of the number of marriages and the high-profile nature of some of the women involved. Polygamy remains legal and culturally accepted among many Zulu families, though the dynamics of multiple households have sometimes led to public speculation and private difficulties.

The women connected to him have varied backgrounds — from long-serving political figures to quieter traditional first ladies and younger partners. Their stories form part of the complex personal and public life of one of South Africa’s most debated political figures.

https://www.enca.com/south-africa/gallery-stylish-zuma-wives-club  

https://briefly.co.za/31810-zuma-wife-the-photos-jacob-zumas-wives-s-story.html  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Zuma  

https://mg.co.za/africa/2021-07-13-all-the-presidents-women-2/