Rais Zuma kuoa mke wa nne

Rais Zuma akiwa na wake zake watatu wa sasa

South Africa's polygamist president Jacob Zuma is preparing to add to his trio of wives by marrying a fourth, his spokesman said today.

The statesman, who turned 70 last week, will wed fiancee Gloria Bongekile Ngema next weekend during a traditional ceremony at his rural home.

Mr Zuma's spokesman Mac Maharaj today confirmed the president was looking forward to formalising his relationship with the university graduate, with whom he has a three year old son.

Mr Maharaj said: 'The president is to formalise his relationship with his fiancee Gloria Ngema.

'They have been engaged for a number of years and will now make their relationship official at a traditional and private ceremony next weekend.'

South Africa's Sunday Times reported that Mr Zuma's forthcoming nuptials followed a lengthy relationship and prolonged engagement with Ms Ngema.

The devoutly religious business graduate has recently been seen at the side of the Zulu former goatherd, who is permitted to take multiple wives under South African law.

It was reported that last year Ms Ngema even joined her fiance on a diplomatic trip to France, an honour usually reserved for the First Lady.

The couple are believed to now be preparing to wed next weekend at the president's homestead in Nkandla in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province.

The nuptials will take place under Zulu customary law and will leave Mr Zuma four current spouses.

The polygamist statesman, who is believed to have fathered more than 20 children, wed his long-standing first wife Sizakele Khumalo, 69, in 1973.

He married Nompumelelo Ntuli, 37, in 2008 and wed third current wife Thobeka Madiba, 39, in 2010.

The five-times married statesman has previously wed two other women.

He divorced from South African cabinet minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in 1999 and another wife, Kate Mantsho-Zuma, committed suicide in 2000.

Mr Zuma, who leads South Africa's ruling African National Congress, lives with his three current wives at his rural homestead.

All three were at the politician's side as he was inaugurated president in 2009.

The trio of spouses are now all officially treated as First Ladies and share Mr Zuma's official engagements between them.

Last week all were on hand to cut the presidential cake during lavish celebrations for his 70th birthday in Durban.

Mr Zuma, who spent time as a political prisoner under South Africa's apartheid regime, is also believed to have dated a string of other women.

The polygamist leader is believed to be engaged to at least one other woman and faced controversy two years ago after it emerged that he had fathered a love child with the daughter of one his close friends.

The president responded to media coverage of the affair by announcing he would rather take multiple wives than commit adultery.

His move to formalise his relationship with Ms Ngema comes after he reportedly paid a traditional 'bride price' lobola to her family.

Hundreds of members of Mr Zuma's family and friends are expected to be in

vited next weekend to the couple's lavish wedding, which is likely to also be attended by the president's three other current wives.

News of the forthcoming nuptials comes as the Sunday Times reported that Mr Zuma had recently hinted his marrying days were over.

The newspaper said the issue of the president's private life was raised during a video montage about him which was played to guests last week at his birthday celebrations.

Asked during an interview whether he was finished with marriage and children, Mr Zuma reportedly answered 'I think so' to the first question and offered a decisive 'Yes' to the second.

The next question apparently enquired about how the statesman liked his women.

Mr Zuma reportedly replied: 'I like one with some body.

Ngema, who accompanied Zuma on a state visit to the G20 summit in South Korea last year, has a three-year-old son with him. She has a business degree among other academic qualifications.

Nkandla was recently renovated for 64 million rands ($8 million, 6 million euros), the Sunday Times reported.Zuma’s adventures with women have often sparked controversy.

In 2009 he fathered a child with the daughter of 2010 World Cup local chief Irvin Khoza on the eve of the global event.