The Rand Daily Mail reports Police Minister Nathi Nhleko admitted in response to parliamentary questions that R8.6-million from the police budget had been spent on 11 luxury vehicles for the president’s harem of wives – Bongi Ngema, Nompumelelo “MaNtuli” Zuma, Thobeka Madiba Zuma and Sizakele “MaKhumalo” Zuma.
The vehicles include four Range Rover SUVs bought in 2013, worth over R900,000 each; two Discovery Land Rovers bought in 2014 and worth over R600,000 each; and two Audi Q7s and three Audi A6s, valued at R600,000-R800,000 bought in March this year.
Gordhan announced his austerity budget, including guidelines to limit the value of vehicle purchases for political office bearers, on February 24. The police clearly wiped their arses with the announcement as the minister’s response indicates that the five Audis were purchased on March 30 – 5 weeks after call.
Nhleko said the purchases were “necessary to provide comprehensive protection of VIP spouses”.
Earlier this month, Business Day reported that the presidential spousal unit’s budget – from the 2009-2010 financial year (when Zuma came into power) to the 2016-2017 financial year – had been R88-million.
The budget covers personal support staff, domestic and international air travel and accommodation for official visits approved by the president, cellphones for spouses and their secretaries, IT equipment such as laptops and printers, and a daily allowance for incidental expenses during official journeys.
Former Presidency spokesman Bongani Majola said at the time: “The national government, led by the Presidency, has embarked on cost-containment and austerity measures across all budget and expenditure items, including goods and services, transport and accommodation, and general procurement. This has also affected the spousal office, like all other units in the Presidency.”
The purchase of the vehicles is not from the spousal budget.
Police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the money came from the police because its presidential protection unit was responsible for protecting all VIPS.
How is it that South African taxpayers need to fork out money for the Zumaster’s many wives?
Well – The Recognition of Customary Marriages Act does allow for a man to have more than 1 spouse.
For a customary marriage to be recognised as a valid marriage, a customary marriage entered into before 15 November 2000 must only be valid at customary law. However, if entered into from 15 November 2000 onwards it must comply with the following requirements
1. The marriage must be negotiated, entered into or celebrated in accordance with customary law.
2. The prospective spouses must be above the age of 18 years.
3. Both prospective spouses must consent to the marriage.
4. The marriage must be negotiated and entered into or celebrated in accordance with customary law.
5. The parents of a prospective spouse who is a minor must consent to the marriage. If he or she has no parents, then his or her legal guardian must consent. If the parents or legal guardian cannot consent, a Commissioner of Child Welfare can be approached for consent and where consent is refused by either of the 1) parents, 2) the legal guardian or 3) the Commissioner of Child Welfare, only a Judge of the High Court may consider granting such consent.
6. Neither spouse must be in a civil marriage as stated above.
7. Although there is no restriction on the number of customary marriages that a husband may enter into, no further customary marriage may be entered into unless an order of court regulating the future matrimonial property system of his marriages has been obtained.
