Jacob Zuma

=== Polygamy ===
Zuma is a polygamist, in line with traditional Zulu culture, and has been married six times. In 2012 the ''[[The Daily Telegraph|Daily Telegraph]]'' estimated he had 20 children,<ref name="Support2">{{cite news |last=Laing |first=Aislinn |date=20 June 2012 |title=Jacob Zuma faces losing £1.2 million support for four wives |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/9344916/Jacob-Zuma-faces-losing-1.2-million-support-for-four-wives.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621171139/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/9344916/Jacob-Zuma-faces-losing-1.2-million-support-for-four-wives.html |archive-date=21 June 2012 |access-date=20 June 2012 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}</ref> and in 2014 the ''[[The Guardian|Guardian]]'' reported he has 21,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=David |date=29 July 2014 |title=Jacob Zuma accused of nepotism after giving daughter ministry position |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/29/jacob-zuma-nepotism-giving-daughter-ministry-position |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717084252/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/29/jacob-zuma-nepotism-giving-daughter-ministry-position |archive-date=17 July 2016 |access-date=29 April 2017 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> some of whom were born out of wedlock. In an interview, he said:<blockquote>There are plenty of politicians who have mistresses and children that they hide so as to pretend they're monogamous. I prefer to be open. I love my wives and I'm proud of my children.<ref name="wives2">{{cite news |last=Molele |first=Charles |date=15 December 2007 |title=So who will the Zuma First Lady be? |url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article88543.ece/SO-WHO-WILL-THE-ZUMA-FIRST-LADY-BE- |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516151639/http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article88543.ece/SO-WHO-WILL-THE-ZUMA-FIRST-LADY-BE- |archive-date=16 May 2011 |work=The Times}}</ref></blockquote>Less than a year into Zuma's presidency in March 2010, responding to a parliamentary question from the DA, the [[Minister in the Presidency]], [[Collins Chabane]], reported that the state spousal support budget was about R15.52 million, close to double the budget in the previous year when [[Kgalema Motlanthe]] had been president.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-03-16 |title=Zuma's spousal budget: R15 517 500 |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/zumas-spousal-budget-r15-517-500-476558 |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=[[Independent Online (South Africa)|IOL]]}}</ref> Opposition leader [[Helen Zille]] expressed disapproval.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=David |date=2010-03-17 |title=South African furore over budget for Jacob Zuma's family |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/mar/17/jacob-zuma-south-africa |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> In subsequent years, Zuma's spokesperson, [[Mac Maharaj]], stressed that South Africa did not have a formal office for the [[first lady]], and that the state did not support the President's wives or children except insofar as it funded some travel expenses and spousal participation at official functions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-04-16 |title=Zuma's wedding will be a private affair |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2012-04-16-zumas-wedding-will-be-a-private-affair/ |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=Sowetan |language=en-ZA}}</ref> Yet in June 2012, there were reports that activists in the [[Eastern Cape]] branch of the ANC were backing a proposal that only Zuma's first wife should receive state support.<ref name="Support2" />