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| Is Zuma's sex life a private matter? | Is Zuma's sex life a private matter? |
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| Jacob Zuma has always been open about his practising of polygamy By Pumza Fihlani BBC News, Johannesburg | Jacob Zuma has always been open about his practising of polygamy By Pumza Fihlani BBC News, Johannesburg |
| South Africans have largely accepted President Jacob Zuma's polygamy - but allegations that he fathered a child out of wedlock have highlighted a gaping cultural divide. | South Africans have largely accepted President Jacob Zuma's polygamy - but allegations that he fathered a child out of wedlock have highlighted a gaping cultural divide. |
| In battling South Africa's HIV/Aids epidemic, the government advocates regular condom use and faithfulness to one partner. | In battling South Africa's HIV/Aids epidemic, the government advocates regular condom use and faithfulness to one partner. |
| It is un-African to discuss private matters publicly Moses TwalaKara Heritage Institute | It is un-African to discuss private matters publicly Moses TwalaKara Heritage Institute |
| Mr Zuma has three wives. And now, it seems, a four-month-old daughter with another woman - 39-year-old Sonono Khoza whose father is a senior football official. | Mr Zuma has three wives. And now, it seems, a four-month-old daughter with another woman - 39-year-old Sonono Khoza whose father is a senior football official. |
| Opposition parties and newspapers, Aids activists and women's rights groups are up in arms - they accuse Mr Zuma of setting a bad example. | Opposition parties and newspapers, Aids activists and women's rights groups are up in arms - they accuse Mr Zuma of setting a bad example. |
| But the government has denied suggestions that his actions contradict his government's policies on Aids. | But the government has denied suggestions that his actions contradict his government's policies on Aids. |
| And the spotlight on Mr Zuma's sex life has once again opened the debate about his polygamy. | And the spotlight on Mr Zuma's sex life has once again opened the debate about his polygamy. |
| Some have questioned whether it should still be allowed in a country where more than five million people live with HIV. | Some have questioned whether it should still be allowed in a country where more than five million people live with HIV. |
| Rural phenomenon | Rural phenomenon |
| Political commentator Adam Habib is among those who believe Mr Zuma needs to clarify his position - at least on the latest allegations. | Political commentator Adam Habib is among those who believe Mr Zuma needs to clarify his position - at least on the latest allegations. |
| Xhosas are among the groups who practise polygamy | Xhosas are among the groups who practise polygamy |
| "If Mr Zuma is convinced that there is no contradiction between his extramarital relationship and government's message on safe sex then he should explain this," Mr Habib says. | "If Mr Zuma is convinced that there is no contradiction between his extramarital relationship and government's message on safe sex then he should explain this," Mr Habib says. |
| He says a "significant group of citizens" do not have a problem with Mr Zuma's polygamy because he has been "transparent" about it. | He says a "significant group of citizens" do not have a problem with Mr Zuma's polygamy because he has been "transparent" about it. |
| But he says the gap between those "for it" and those "against it" seems to be widening. | But he says the gap between those "for it" and those "against it" seems to be widening. |
| Zulus and Xhosas are among the groups were polygamy is practised, but it has largely become a rural phenomenon. | Zulus and Xhosas are among the groups were polygamy is practised, but it has largely become a rural phenomenon. |
| Traditionalists in rural areas embrace polygamy as an important part of culture. | Traditionalists in rural areas embrace polygamy as an important part of culture. |
| Moses Twala, of the the Kara Heritage Institute, does not believe there should even be a debate about Mr Zuma's wives, or alleged mistress. | Moses Twala, of the the Kara Heritage Institute, does not believe there should even be a debate about Mr Zuma's wives, or alleged mistress. |
| "It is un-African to discuss private matters publicly. It makes me question what purpose this serves except to degrade someone," he says. | "It is un-African to discuss private matters publicly. It makes me question what purpose this serves except to degrade someone," he says. |
| "It is a normal for a man in our culture to be married but have children outside of his marriage, that has often been how other marriages have formed." | "It is a normal for a man in our culture to be married but have children outside of his marriage, that has often been how other marriages have formed." |
| 'Cultural intolerance' | 'Cultural intolerance' |
| But many South Africans believe polygamy perpetuates inequality between men and women. | But many South Africans believe polygamy perpetuates inequality between men and women. |
| Just because polygamy is part of some cultures doesn't mean it is good for society Security guard Golden Mushwana | Just because polygamy is part of some cultures doesn't mean it is good for society Security guard Golden Mushwana |
| The debate is raging even among friends and colleagues on Johannesburg's streets. | The debate is raging even among friends and colleagues on Johannesburg's streets. |
| Security guard Golden Mushwana says the practice is outdated - asking why a man would ever need three wives. | Security guard Golden Mushwana says the practice is outdated - asking why a man would ever need three wives. |
| "Just because polygamy is part of some cultures doesn't mean it is good for society," he says. | "Just because polygamy is part of some cultures doesn't mean it is good for society," he says. |
| But his colleague Tebogo Motshabi disagrees. | But his colleague Tebogo Motshabi disagrees. |
| "We don't practise polygamy in [my] culture but if we were allowed to I would marry more than one wife, I don't think there is anything wrong with it if that's what you want," he says. | "We don't practise polygamy in [my] culture but if we were allowed to I would marry more than one wife, I don't think there is anything wrong with it if that's what you want," he says. |
| Mr Zuma's supporters have always rebuffed criticism of his polygamy - and they have been less receptive to critics linking his sexual habits to Aids policies. | Mr Zuma's supporters have always rebuffed criticism of his polygamy - and they have been less receptive to critics linking his sexual habits to Aids policies. |
| To them, such criticism shows "cultural intolerance" or an attitude of "cultural superiority" against black people. | To them, such criticism shows "cultural intolerance" or an attitude of "cultural superiority" against black people. |
| During white minority rule, black cultural practices had no place in society - the government of the time viewed them as inferior. | During white minority rule, black cultural practices had no place in society - the government of the time viewed them as inferior. |
| But black South Africans have for years defined themselves by their cultural values, beliefs and customs and it is important to many black people to retain that. | But black South Africans have for years defined themselves by their cultural values, beliefs and customs and it is important to many black people to retain that. |
| Mr Zuma recently defended having "many wives" in Davos | Mr Zuma recently defended having "many wives" in Davos |
| Cultural and ethnic leaders have been careful not to criticise Mr Zuma's lifestyle in public, lest they be accused of cultural intolerance. | Cultural and ethnic leaders have been careful not to criticise Mr Zuma's lifestyle in public, lest they be accused of cultural intolerance. |
| South Africa's constitution recognises the practice under customary law. | South Africa's constitution recognises the practice under customary law. |
| And Mr Zuma has always been open about his embracing of Zulu cultural beliefs. | And Mr Zuma has always been open about his embracing of Zulu cultural beliefs. |
| He recently defended having "many wives" at the World Economic Summit in Davos, calling for people to be more accepting of his culture. | He recently defended having "many wives" at the World Economic Summit in Davos, calling for people to be more accepting of his culture. |
| "That's my culture. It does not take anything from me, from my political beliefs, including the belief in the equality of women," AFP news agency quoted the president as saying. | "That's my culture. It does not take anything from me, from my political beliefs, including the belief in the equality of women," AFP news agency quoted the president as saying. |
| Some argue that this kind of openness is vital to the appeal he holds for many rural South Africans and traditionalists. | Some argue that this kind of openness is vital to the appeal he holds for many rural South Africans and traditionalists. |
| Is President Jacob Zuma's sex life a private matter? Tell us what do you think, using the postform below. | Is President Jacob Zuma's sex life a private matter? Tell us what do you think, using the postform below. |
| A selection of your comments will be published. | |
| I am not against culture. However such practises do not belong to the current time. the younger generation of south africans should not be part of that. The president is setting a very bad example to the modern nation of South Africa.Pastor Tshingambo Mbundu, Canada | |
| Comrade Zuma is a public figure. His sex life will always be a public issue, more so because of its "flamboyant nature". I think it ill-behoves a president to fail to practice in private what he and his government preach in public. He is setting a horrible example with his "sexcapades" in a country afflicted by HIV. Mfor Divine Afuba, London, UK | |
| I would like to know more about his culture's practice of polygamy in regards to the rights of women. If he is embracing equality, I would like to know his wives' rights of financial support, job seeking, domestic conflict and divorce, to name just a few issues that affect women world wide. It does seem to be contradictory that he have a child out of wedlock as this is disrespectful to his other three wives for whom the financial burden of another child will undoubtedly affect their financial well-being too. These are important issues because South Africans have made them important and Mr Zuma seems to only be paying lip service to ideals he does not truly believe in.angela guthrie, silver spring USA | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |