Big Love - South African Style

Dear Congressman,

This weekend, between yard duty and running errands, I took time to scan the headlines of several of our countries beleaguered newspapers. One article stood out above the others from the Washington Post:

Which Mrs. Zuma Will Be South Africa's First Lady?

By Karin Brulliard
Saturday, May 9, 2009
JOHANNESBURG, May 8 -- To the rarefied ranks of first ladies such as Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, South Africa will add Sizakele Khumalo. Or will it be Nompumelelo Ntuli? Or Thobeka Mabhija?

Though South Africa's recent general election featured all the mudslinging of a fierce political battle, it was long expected to result in the victory of ruling party leader Jacob Zuma, who is to be inaugurated as president Saturday. The real mystery -- one that has intrigued South Africans for months -- is which of Zuma's wives will be the nation's new first lady.

Zuma, a 67-year-old Zulu traditionalist, is about to become South Africa's first polygamist president. Confronted with the first lady question, spokesmen for his party, the African National Congress, have typically declined to respond or noted that the constitution does not touch on the issue, thus allowing Zuma to choose or alternate. The party, in fact, had stayed mum on just how many wives and children Zuma has -- figures that even his biographer could not nail down.



An interesting problem for the diplomatic corps, don't you think. I can just see the receiving line at the next Johannesburg soiree, Mr. Zuma, followed by the first lady, the second lady, and the third lady, depending on which order was determined by a previous ballot. Or will they be collectively introduced as the "First Ladies"?

For the record, polygamy is still illegal in South Africa, except in cases from a 1998 law that allowed men of tribes that had traditionally participated in multiple marriage partners to continue the practice.

So now we can greatly anticipate Michelle Obama's dilemma during the next official visit from the South African President.

"Good morning, Thoebeka..... oh you're Sizakele.... no... you're Nompumelelo" You're Sizakele's assistant? Can't you gals wear nametags or something????"