/ 1 February 2010

Zuma’s behaviour has ‘public consequences’

Jacob Zuma, the polygamous president of South Africa, has been accused of undermining the fight against Aids by reportedly fathering his 20th child — with a woman who is not one of his three wives.

Zuma (67) allegedly had unprotected sex with the daughter of a friend who is one of the principal organisers of this year’s football World Cup, according to the Sunday Times.

The newspaper reported that 39-year-old divorcee Sonono Khoza, the daughter of soccer official Irvin Khoza, gave birth to Zuma’s daughter in October. The president, who recently married for the fifth time, already has 19 children.

The claim, which was not denied by Zuma’s office, prompted fierce criticism from the opposition Democratic Alliance. Its leader, Helen Zille, said: “President Jacob Zuma’s behaviour directly contradicts the government’s campaign against multiple sexual partners, and the inherent Aids risk in having unprotected sex.”

Zille said a current government advertising campaign promotes safe sex, the use of condoms and attitudes that diminish the chance of having unprotected sex with multiple partners. “It sits in stark contrast to the behaviour, and it would appear attitude, of the president.”

She added: “There are some people who may argue that Jacob Zuma’s sex life is a matter of private morality or ‘culture’, but this is not so. His personal behaviour has profound public consequences, and he acknowledged as much by apologising to the nation for having unprotected sex, following his rape trial [in 2006], and by undertaking to change his ways.” Zuma was acquitted of rape.

The president’s 20th child has been registered with the name of Thandekile Matina Zuma, the Sunday Times said.

According to a family friend quoted by the paper, a delegation visited the Khoza family in Soweto, near Johannesburg, last December on Zuma’s behalf to discuss the customary Zulu payment [inhlawulo] due when a child is born out of wedlock. Zuma later discussed the issue with Sonono and her mother, Matina, in Soweto in January.

Irvin Khoza, who is chairperson of the World Cup local organising committee and owner of the Orlando Pirates club, is said to have told family friends that he felt betrayed by Zuma’s relationship with Sonono, as he considered him a friend.

During a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week, Zuma was asked if he loved all his wives equally. “Absolutely,” he said. He said polygamy was part of his culture and did not negate any of his beliefs, including his belief in “the equality of women”.

He dismissed the idea that polygamy was inherently unfair to women, saying: “It depends what culture you come from. People interpret cultures in different ways. Some think that their culture is superior to others. That’s a problem we have in the world.

“That’s my culture. It does not take anything from me, from my political beliefs and everything, including the belief in the equality of women.” – guardian.co.uk