 |
PREPARING FOR THEIR BIG DAY: South African President Jacob Zuma with his fiancee Gloria Bongi Ngema
Photo: EPA
|
A traditional ceremony is expected to take place in Zuma's home village of Nkandla, in South Africa's eastern KwaZulu-Natal province.
There's always been concerns from quite a number of South African citizens about the president's value in his cultural practice (poligamy).
A lot of people were arguing that the tax payers' money was being misspent on maintaining the life of Zuma and his family rather than using it on service delivery.
Perhaps we can all relax now because things are going to be different in this case, the spokesperson to the president, Mac Maharaj said in a statement:
" The cost of the ceremony is to be paid by the president with there being no government expenditure involved."
Maharaj also said that the spouses will also pay for their own living or household expenses, be it food, mortgages, lights, and water.
The public relations angle in story can be derived from the theory that in today’s sensitive business environment, any organization’s ultimate survival may well depend on developing and maintaining a recognizable image and favorable reputation.
We can argue that Zuma is trying to create the perception that as the head of state, he is able and willing to relief tax payers from funding yet another wedding.
He may be successful in this endevour because this suggests that he is not prepared to use ordinary citizens for his personal benefit as president.
We all have our own cultures that we cherish, but I've personally noticed that at any point of our engagements our cultures will clash.
My question therefore is:
When someone becomes president of a country, would it rather be easier to put personal culture aside and let it not interfere with their professional role or would that be a sign of looking down on our own cultures?
As it was announced that Zuma is using his private funds for the wedding and not the state's money, should he be allowed to practice his own culture? he is a public figure, i know but he also entitled to his private life
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question Nic, Culture plays an important part in our lives and our President is doing what he believes in. I think it will not be fair on him that just because he is President he should put his values and beliefs aside
ReplyDeleteThis is a valid point Mbalenhle, to some extent, he is entitled to practise his culture. But let's not ignore the fact that in the process, the taxpayer's money is being used for maintanance.
Deletei guess the money for the e-tolls well be well spent on the new wife
ReplyDeleteWell, that is a contoversial point Clive. e-toll is also an issue to be discussed separately.
DeletePersonally I feel that Mr Zuma is lesding South Africa with a Zulu culture.Yes we must practica our culture but not in a public eye.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your viwe Nokuthula, but I don't think that would be right. Imagine if you were told that you can stick with your culture, but don't display it to other people - that's not democratical.
DeleteCultures!?please!!So much money is being used on his expensive weddings and yet there are so many shacks and unfinished RDP houses in our country! I choose to disagree with this situation!
ReplyDeleteKelebogile, that is very true hey. I mean the level of poverty is so high in our country, people still live in shacks, some go to bed on empty tummies daily, yet other people live the larvish lifestyle, I don't see 'Ubuntu' in that!
DeleteLets hope that indeed the taxpayers money will not fund the next Zumas wedding another thing even if the tax-payers money is being used they will not declare that to the South Africans,I will be happy if they can investigate after the wedding if indeed the tax-payers money was not used.
ReplyDeleteMost probably, this is not different from the controversial protection of information bill - people could do all they want and decide to keep it to themselves!
DeleteWell i may say Mr president is a true African man following culture, but this is too much what example is he setting to his follwers. It is clear that tax payers money will have something to do with this wedding and am very sure it will also be a million rands wedding again...Eish! ZUMA!
ReplyDeleteAll we can do is hope that it won't happen, anyway, people at grass roots level always have no say in such issues!
DeleteI agree with Clive, I guess this whole e-tolling system is implemented for things like, the presidents wedding and his wife’s not to help the poor, I mean we all know that the money to fund the wedding will be coming from the nation’s money
ReplyDeleteHopefully not Nyiko, hopefully not! But if it happens, then Zuma would have lied to all of us and he would have to hang his head in shame!
DeletePersonal culture should not be kept aside. I often hear people complaining about how South Africans have lost their roots. This is a good way to show that no matter what position you belong, culture is still practised.
ReplyDeleteIndeed culture should be preserved, but can you imagine how it would be like if all our leaders followed the same cultural practice of polygamy? Can you imagine how the taxpayers' money would be used? I think it be too much, and there wouldn't be enough to sustain the needy!
DeleteZuma is old, my question is where were all these women when he was in his 30s and 40s? why didnt he get married then? honestly to me it doesnt seem like normal cultural behaiviour, and that statement is no guarantee that the states money does not take care of his family, u just never know what to believe with these polititians!
ReplyDeleteYou just never know, only those in power would know if this is really true or not. As for ordinary citizens, we just watch as we're being led!
DeleteNic presonally I'm against poligamy, but just because Im not a believer of this type of culture doesnt mean I have to direspect it and judge the people involved. Just because Zuma is president it doesnt mean he has to turn against his culture and belief system,but it does mean he has to be responsible about it and lead by example. I just hope is faithful to his wives and doesnt have any other mistresses, we do not want our president being HIV positive.
ReplyDeleteThat's a strong point Lorraine, all I'm say is that let us be considerate to people who are in the circle of poverty, let us not focus on enriching ourselves further when others don't have anything to start with!
DeleteI agree with Lorraine Zuma is practising his culture but he must not do that on other peoples expences
ReplyDeletePoint taken Thobeka.
DeleteI just don't understand why he feels the need to marry so many wives. I mean 4 wives? That is just too much and he wants to spin it off as it being "culture" then so be it. But this also means that it doesn't stop him from marrying again and again AND again!!!
ReplyDeleteKeaRams its probably because he takes VIAGRA
DeleteWe can critisese it all we want KeaRams, but the fact of the matter is that poligamy forms part of the Zulu culture and should be respected just like other cultures in the new SA.
Deletelets look at it this way... a president is a leader..leading by example,so this is actually telling the rest of SA men to have more wifes... heeee? at this centuary? what about all these kinds of sexual deseases?
ReplyDeletethis is actualy telling me that our president is saying to whole of SA hey listen man condomising is just a waste of time,havin one sexual partner is u being a coward because he ha a kid with thid new woman and the older wives
We can also question the concept of "sex before marriage", our youngsters are watching, the question is what are they learning from such and what kind of men will they grow up to be in future?
Deletewell i dont think culture and proffesionalism contradict each other in any way infact they can both be practised simultaniously. i personaly think that our president is abusing the power he has and making culture as an excuse.
ReplyDeleteSS, well said, thanks for your input in this controversial issue!
DeleteWell he is a reflection of what South Africa is in the eyes of other nations, granted, but the whole poligamy practise while being president just to make sure that when he is no longer president, his family will be sorted or well looked after. It is all well and fine when people hide behind culture whenever it suits their personal agenda, no wonder Malema calls him a Dictator...nxa!!! MokD
ReplyDeleteThanks for your opinion.
DeleteYou have raised a valid point indeed, I think that our president should start thinking about his country and try to do a better job than what he has been doing already. That way people will have more confidence in him as the "first citizen" of South Africa.
ReplyDeleteOur leaders are at the fore front, all they do influences the way society does things, chances are that our youngsters will grow up with that mindset!
DeleteIf you going to be a president of a country,you need to sacrifice certain things and some things may mean a lot to you but you have to. A president is supposed to lead by example for the whole country,having many wives is setting a wrong examples for our fathers and our young brothers. Culture or no culture,it is unacceptable period.
ReplyDeleteNoted, thanks for your opinion Siyasanga.
Deletewell i believe that culture should really be followed but when it comes to being a president really i think the should be sacrifics he should make and i already think he sacrificed a lot when he was runing for the position
ReplyDeletePoint noted Grace!
DeleteIt's a tough one, speak to a Zulu about polygamy and you will be more confused as hell though one thing for sure is Mac Maharaj & Zizi Kodwa have their hands full as spokespersons for Zuma.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Seth, managing perceptions is now the sole duty for all of them, especially as we look forth to 'Mangaung'.
DeleteWe are a diverse , and uniquely beautiful country, and the issue of his polygamy should not become a factor in his presidential duties. In fact that is a private matter.
ReplyDeleteWell if it involves the public's money, then it is a public matter.
DeleteNo matter how hard we might all debate this issue, This is his culture and for as long as he lives he is going to marry these woman.. for instance the case that he fathers a child with Irvin Khozas daugther Sonono Khoza paints another picture to our minds that he is indeed going to marry her too, so basically the list is endless!
ReplyDeleteI guess it's: let's wait and see...
DeletePeople are gettong so caught up in their modernised lives that culture has become an after thought. We do not follow our cultures anymore hence we have lost the respect for our superiors such as the President.
ReplyDeleteI do also believe that our culture should not be thrown away like that. But very important, let us not use our cultures as an excuse for self enrichment!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFor me he is leading by culture to his fellow Zulu's but to someone who is a Zulu or who believes in polygamy this would sound as an offence...im against what he is doing but after all we ahve to reapect his tradition and culture because remember we are living in a democratic country, everyone does what he or she wants at any paritcular given time.
ReplyDelete