The office of presidential hopeful Jacob Zuma has declined to comment on a report in a weekly national magazine that alleges he may soon father his 18th child by a ninth woman.

You magazine reported in its latest edition that the “elegant” 35-year-old Durban woman was expecting to give birth soon. You does not confirm how many of the nine women the ANC deputy president was or is married to.

It is public knowledge that three wives include Sizakele, who lives at Zuma’s home at Inkandla, KZN. Another was Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma, with whom he has four children, but from whom he is divorced.

Another wife was Kate, with whom he had five children. She committed suicide on December 8, 2000.

At the time, Ranjeni Munusamy, then a journalist with the Sunday Times, reported that it was believed she was depressed because of strained relations with her husband.

At the time, Zuma reportedly had at least three other wives. And 30 years ago, he fathered a son with Minah Shongwe, the sister of Deputy Judge President of the Transvaal Jeremiah Shongwe.

In November 2002, Sapa reported that Zuma – then 60 – was engaged to Swazi princess Sebentile Dlamini. Since then, his financial troubles have been well-documented, as has his unprotected sex with an HIV-positive woman while he was still in other relationships.

You editor Esmare Weideman told Independent

Newspapers yesterday: “We obviously realised what a contentious story this would be. But we decided that we fully trust the sources that gave the story to us and we believe it’s a matter of public interest that this story should be aired.”

Zuma’s spokesperson, Nonto Kozo, said yesterday: “We are out of the country. We have no idea.”

With acknowledgements to Murray Williams and The Star.