The South African Constitution does not make provision for a first lady or first ladies, the Presidency said on Wednesday.

The Presidency said President Jacob Zuma, who had three wives, would be accompanied by any of the spouses to official or public engagements, or all of them at the same time should he so decide.

"This is his prerogative, and has been the practice since he took office," the Presidency said.

The Presidency said it had decided to clarify the matter after speculation about provisions for first ladies emerged after Zuma married Thobeka Madiba-Zuma on Monday.

"As has been the practice in past administrations, the Presidency provides administrative support to the spouses of the president through its spousal office," the Presidency said.

The president's spouses could decide to engage in community work or any other activity that supported the work of the president.

"This is not mandatory as they are not part of the Presidency or the public service. They undertake this work purely on a voluntary basis."

Zuma's first wife, Sizakele Khumalo-Zuma, was interested in agriculture and food security and she ran a vegetable garden project in Nkandla.

Nompumelelo Ntuli-Zuma's focus was on social development, and she did a lot of work assisting orphans and vulnerable children.

Madiba-Zuma was interested in health matters, especially the fight against cervical cancer.

Zuma was previously married to current Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, whom he divorced in 1998, and Kate Mantsho Zuma, who committed suicide in 2000.

He was also engaged to Gloria Bongi Ngema from Durban. Her family presented umbondo ? or gifts ? to the Zuma family at the end of December.

Read more about Zuma's wives in our feature The First Ladies club