Zuma apologizes for extramarital affair and child
Source: Agencies |
February 8, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SOUTH Africa's polygamist president has apologized to the nation after being criticized for having an extramarital affair that resulted in a daughter born in October.
Analysts had argued the love child revelations would have little impact because South African voters overwhelmingly supported Jacob Zuma in last year's election even though he was an unabashed polygamist who had admitted to having sex outside marriage. But Zuma has had to make two public statements on the matter, a sign he may be worried South Africans will hold him to higher standards now he is president.
"The matter, though private, has been a subject of much public discussion and debate," Zuma said in the latest statement, issued on Saturday. "It has put a lot of pressure on my family and my organization, the African National Congress. I also acknowledge and understand the reaction of many South Africans.
"I deeply regret the pain that I have caused to my family, the ANC ... and South Africans in general."
Three days earlier, Zuma confirmed a South African newspaper's report of the affair. In that earlier statement, he expressed no regrets and criticized the media and rivals for making a political issue out of what he said was a private matter.
Helen Zille, head of the main opposition Democratic Alliance, said Zuma should resign if he was unwilling to accept public scrutiny. In response to his expression of regret, Zille said her party "welcomes President Zuma's apology to the South African public. But words are not enough, he must now focus on repairing the damage he has done to the fight against HIV/AIDS."
Zille and others have said Zuma is a poor role model in a country of 50 million with an estimated 5.7 million infected with HIV.
Zuma was acquitted of rape in 2006 after he said the unprotected sex he had with the HIV-positive daughter of a friend was consensual.
He has three wives - which is legal in South Africa in an acknowledgment of tribal traditions - and is engaged to a fourth woman.
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