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| Zuma apologises over love-child | Zuma apologises over love-child |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| South African President Jacob Zuma has apologised for fathering an illegitimate son, in the face of a national outcry. | South African President Jacob Zuma has apologised for fathering an illegitimate son, in the face of a national outcry. |
| "I deeply regret the pain that I have caused to my family, the ANC (African National Congress, the alliance and South Africans in general," he said. | "I deeply regret the pain that I have caused to my family, the ANC (African National Congress, the alliance and South Africans in general," he said. |
| The baby girl was born last year to the daughter of a football executive. | The baby girl was born last year to the daughter of a football executive. |
| Mr Zuma, aged 67, is a Zulu, a group which practises polygamy. He has three wives and 19 children. | Mr Zuma, aged 67, is a Zulu, a group which practises polygamy. He has three wives and 19 children. |
| Pressure | |
| "I have over the past week taken time to consider and reflect on the issues relating to a relationship I had outside of wedlock," Mr Zuma said in a statement, admitting that it "has been a subject of much public discussion and debate". | |
| "It has put a lot of pressure on my family and my organisation, the African National Congress," the statement said. | |
| Earlier this week, the president confirmed that he was having a relationship with Sonono Khoza - the 39-year-old daughter of World Cup official Irvin Khoza. | Earlier this week, the president confirmed that he was having a relationship with Sonono Khoza - the 39-year-old daughter of World Cup official Irvin Khoza. |
| He said the matter was "intensely personal" and dismissed as "mischievous" criticism from activists who said his actions had undermined official HIV/Aids campaigns. | |
| Mr Zuma was praised last year when he announced major changes to the country's Aids policy, which included increasing the roll-out of anti-retroviral drugs. | |
| But opposition parties now say his behaviour contradicts the government's stance on HIV prevention - preaching regular condom use and faithfulness to one partner. | |
| South Africa has the highest number of HIV infections in the world - more than five million people. |