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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 at least 19 children. | |
Pressure | 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". | "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". |
ZUMA'S WIVES Thobeka Madiba-Zuma - married, January 2010 (above)Nompumelelo Ntuli - married, January 2008Sizakele Khumalo - married, 1973Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma - divorced, 1998Kate Mantsho Zuma - died, 2000 Is Zuma's sex life a private matter? Zuma son 'happy to share father' | |
"It has put a lot of pressure on my family and my organisation, the African National Congress," the statement said. | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | South Africa has the highest number of HIV infections in the world - more than five million people. |
This is not the first time that the president's sex life has been under the spotlight. | |
In 2006, while being acquitted of rape, Mr Zuma admitted that he had made a mistake by having unprotected sex with a woman he knew to be HIV-positive. | |
Like Ms Khoza, the woman was also the daughter of a family friend. | |
Mr Zuma has been married five times in all, most recently in January, and is also engaged to another woman. | |
He has 19 children according to his office, but it is not clear if that includes the baby born last October. |