Zuma "has lovechild" with 2010 football World Cup chief's daughter

Jacob Zuma’s lovechild

New addition to Zuma's brood

This sort of behaviour from a president is totally unacceptable. And the fig-leaf of “polygamy” cannot be used to conceal this problem. Zuma owes this country an explanation for why he is behaving in this way. Promiscuity is one bad enough. But unprotected sex sets the very worst example possible.

THE Sunday Times reports today that President Jacob Zuma has fathered a love child with Sonono Khoza, daughter of Irvin Khoza, a man six years his junior. The child was born in October last year and is said to be his 20th child.

Zuma fathers baby with Irvin Khoza's daughter

South African President Jacob Zuma has fathered a child with a daughter of a long-time friend who is one of the main organisers of this year's football World Cup, a newspaper reported Sunday.

The Sunday Times said that 39-year-old divorcee Sonono Khoza, daughter of football magnate Irvin Khoza, gave birth to a daughter in October.

The child, who has been registered in the name of Thandekile Matina Zuma, is the 20th to be fathered by 67-year-old Zuma who is a practising polygamist.

According to a family friend quoted by the paper, a delegation visited the Khoza family in Soweto township last December on Zuma's behalf to discuss the customary Zulu payment (inhlawulo) due when a child is born out of wedlock.

Zuma himself then spent an hour discussing the issue with Sonono and her mother Matina in Soweto in January.

Khoza, who is chairman of the World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) and owner of the Orlando Pirates team, is said to have told family friends that he felt betrayed by Zuma's relationship with Sonono as he considered him a friend.

When telephoned for comment, Sonono Khoza told the paper: "I definitely do not know what you are talking about."

But asked how she felt about her new granddaughter and the fact that Zuma was the father, Matina Khoza responded: "No, we are not excited."

The addition to Zuma's brood shows that the president has again had unprotected sex with a woman who is not his wife - something for which he apologised three and a half years ago.

In May 2006, following his acquittal on a charge of rape, Zuma made a speech in which he said: "As I testified in court, under oath, I am HIV-negative, having undergone an HIV test in March this year. I wish to state categorically and place on record that I erred in having unprotected sex.

"I should have known better and I should have acted with greater caution and responsibility."

In clearing Zuma of rape, the court found that he had had consensual sex - with the daughter of another friend. "Kwezi", as the woman was identified during the trial, was the daughter of one of Zuma's closest friends and comrades in exile and referred to him as malume (uncle).

Zuma's polygamy, which is a source of much public debate, was again thrust into the spotlight this week at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Asked by Newsweek International editor Fareed Zakaria, who was moderating a panel on South Africa, about his "many wives" and whether he loved all of them equally, Zuma responded, "Absolutely," drawing howls of laughter from the crowd.

The birth of the latest baby has triggered speculation that Zuma may be planning to take another wife, which could land up costing taxpayers. According to the ministerial handbook for members of the executive and presiding officers, spouses legally married to the member in a polygamous marriage are entitled to a variety of benefits.

Zuma's wives are each entitled to a personal assistant, a post worth R145920 per year. Air travel, medical expenses and security costs for the spouses are also borne by the state.

His first wife is Sizakele Khumalo, who he married in 1973 and who lives at his homestead in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal. He has no children with her. As well as his late wife, Kate, and his ex-wife, Dlamini-Zuma, in 2008 Zuma married Nompumelelo Ntuli with whom he has two children. Earlier this month he tied the knot with Tobeka Madiba-Zuma, with whom he has three children.

He is engaged to 45-year-old Gloria Bongekile Ngema, with whom he has one child, and has an adult son with Minah Shongwe.