Though many South Africans are of the view that polygamy is a lifestyle choice that is best left to those who decide to adopt it, the news that South African President Jacob Zuma has also fathered a child with Orlando Pirates owner Irvin Khoza’s daughter, may not sit quite as well.
The president is now starting to appear in the media far too often on matters related to his sexual prowess than can be considered comfortable.
On the one hand we have the polygamous lifestyle which saw him wed his fifth wife recently, on the other the rape trial where he was completely exonerated. Now for good measure, barely months after his marriage, the birth of what we believe is his 20th child with the daughter of a friend outside wedlock.
That’s an enormous amount of ground to cover for just one man, never mind one charged with running a country.
Khoza, known as the “Iron Duke”, is himself a controversial character having been arrested for tax evasion and fined for insurance fraud but also respected as someone who came from nowhere to become one of the country’s most powerful figures. As chairman of the PSL he forged one of the most lucrative sponsorships in the local games history with Absa bank and was chairman of South Africa’s successful World Cup bid.
As such he is nobody’s mug.
It will certainly be of interest to many to know when he first came to know that Zuma had slept with his daughter and fathered a child and his reaction when he found out?
It may have come as a mixed blessing in that it would link him to currently the most powerful family in the country but accompanied by feelings of betrayal if it went on behind his back.
The Sunday Times in a massive scoop says that Sonono Khoza, 39, and divorced, gave birth to the little girl on October 8 2009 barely three months before the country’s most famous polygamist tied the knot for the fifth time.
During June of 2009 Zuma had invited Khoza to share the stage with him during a post-election bash at Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal. It is unclear whether the “Iron Duke” knew at that stage who the father of his unborn grandchild was.
The baby, Thandekile Matina Zuma, now nearly four months old, has been registered in her father’s name, and brings to 20 the number of children known to have been fathered by him — along with the 19 Zuma is officially said to have had, with his ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, his late wife, Kate Zuma, and his current wives and girlfriends.
Several family friends told the Sunday Times that Khoza felt betrayed and humiliated by the president’s relationship with his daughter, particularly as he considered Zuma — who is six years older than him — a friend.
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.”
The birth of Thandekile is going to bring that statement into question.
Not only because the president was involved again in unprotected sex but it also begs the question of whether he intended to make Sonono pregnant from the outset. How this will sit with the “Iron Duke” is another matter altogether.
Zuma’s polygamy also came under the spotlight in Davos, Switzerland, where his answers to questions from Newsweek drew howls of laughter.
If we factor in the speculation that Sonono might be wife number six then the president’s private life is fast becoming a matter of national concern.
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41 Responses to “Is Zuma’s sex drive out of control?”
It is written in the bible that God blessed Solomon with many wives and children. Perhaps this is a sign of wisdom.
A deeply disappointing development - unfortunately SA is being saddled with a huge family at state expense, drawing nfunds away from where they are most needed. I didn’t realise that our President understood a welfare state to be for his own welfare and that of his family.
He appears to need young women and lots of children to bolster his self-esteem as a man. This makes him pathetic in the extreme. Forget culture, there is something amiss with someone who has to seduce every attractive woman he meets.
Hmmmm. As I recall, Mr. Zuma was placed in charge of “Moral Re-generation” when he was serving as Deputy President under Mbeki. At the time my reaction was that Mbeki was laughing up his sleeve at the irony of the appointment! Mr. Zuma, for his part handled the weighty portfolio with his usual élan. Which is to say, not at all.
It should be apparent, apart from his sexual encounters, Zuma is a non-starter. He swans around the country and the world giving speeches and embarrassing himself (and SA) by botching every interview and press conference with illogical, self-contradictory, or just plan absurd statements.
Our Mr. Zuma is NOT a do-er. He’s a say-er. His words carry no conviction, because apart from his conviction that he is un-convictable, he has no convictions! He believes in his 24 carat Sheik-guaranteed invulnerability, his divine right to act with impunity, and his political invincibility. And in case we question the latter he has a suitably blunt object waiting in the wings to bludgeon us into submission: the Thug-in-Chief of the ANCYL, Zuma’s child of the heart if not of the blood.
Frankly, I couldn’t care less how many wives, girlfriends or children Zuma has. I do care that he occupies the highest office in the country with nothing apart from his questionable ‘charm’, his Zulu wardrobe, and his showerhead as his tools of office.
Michael- for a man to get married he has to have the woman as a girlfriend first- so your point is pretty moot.
I really have a problem having the same meal every single meal time no matter how good the steak is (nothing vegetarian for me thanks). If I am to tell the truth I find it to be the same with women. one wants a bit of variety.One woman for life is not normal-its an abberation. a lot of men I have talked to say so.In Oz you will be surprised how many happily married man screw prostitutes
I am not alone Bill Clinton senator John Edwards, Mr Tiger woods, footballer John Terry,and all french presidents share this view and really should have their own apalchian trail in SA.They could marry as many women as they want instead of lying about being faithful.
It is said 80% of men will be unfaithful. I suppose it does not include any men on this forum. I put my hand up - done that.
Those who believe in monogamy should not marry a polygamist.Zuma has not broken any laws and by all accounts he is running the country much better that Vorster,de clerk put together.
You want to marry one wife please do so. if you want to increase to 2 let that be your choice.
leave western culture to the westerners. let the Zulus do their thing
Does anyone else get the feeling that women has once again been reclassified as man’s “possession” to show his riches and prowess? I notice that no-one has asked or expected to get any comment from Mrss Zuma, past and present. Davos was plain embarrasing. The French president swops his wife for his mistress and the world goes ape. In South Africa it is accepted as “cultural” to keep the wife and add the mistresses. Does the word “womaniser” still have meaning in the South African context? Does the latest events inspire confidence in our future as South Africans? Will we (especially woman) have to become “cultural” to succeed in future? Shall wife call husband “master” once again? What exactly happened to gender equity? Does anyone have the right to say no to the president’s advances?
Africans are expected to become materialistic energy wasting polluters to become civilised like Europeans; where is the principle in all this that is against the most powerful guy getting all the woman and spreading his genes the widest?
Zuma is certainly a dream “family friend” especially if you have daughters,his ubuntu knows no bounds.Can somebody who’s familiar with african culture please explain to me under what circumstances are we african men allowed to have a baby taking our name before you marry the baby’s mother?And isnt “inhlawulo” only paid for the first pregnancy out of wedlock?
all cultural bias aside,imagine for a minuet if Jacob Zuma, spent as much time worrying about the state of the country, as he apparently does thinking about little Zuma. and satisfying his lust. If the country might not be in a better state?
You know what, if you want to sleep around with you friends children, nieces , woman half your age , for what ever reason you can to justify it fine bye me, but call a spade a spade and really use contraception, you can afford it.
@George, as far as i know the child can’t take the father’s surname until the father marries the woman. maybe thats already in the pipeline. also, i know that if you impregnate a woman you haven’t married you pay “inhlawulo”. doesn’t matter how many lemmings your produce.
Have to say, out of this whole thing..its amazing for a man nearing his seventies to be still firing from all canons. as for shagging your friends daughter, thats just something else. also says a lot for the woman’s morals.
but then again, according to the presidency we’re sticking our cursors where they don’t belong. IF there was such a relationship its the Pres’ private business. Public figure and moral-head of the nation that he is.
Agree with you X Cepting. Women are being reduced to chattel in this country and it is all being passed off in the name of human rights. I dont think Zuma has even complied with the tenets of the sexist Customary Marriages Act.Any whim or sense of entitlement is now being passed off as culture. Women should wake up and see what is happening to them. I have noticed that the ‘wives’ are never asked for comment. Why not? Is it because they may not speak without his permission? Or is it because they have no real value or power and their opinions therefore dont count.
@R - Chattels indeed. I wonder what Credo Mutwa would have had to say about this enforced 19th Century Zulu culture in a 21st Century world. Of course, the ANC Woman’s League says nothing, waiting their cue from the men in charge.
@Mandrake,
You are wrong. A child born out of wedlock can be given the fathers surname.
@Madoda
We no longer live in biblical times; - well 99% of the world, that is. Imagine that, the only parallel you can find is King Solomon.
The main point to all of this is that Zuma was caught out in his rape trial for having unprotected sex with an HIV positive young woman. KNOWINGLY. He expressed his remorse and apologised.
A year or so later he again has sexual intercourse without protecting himself with a condom. Unless he insisted upon an HIV test and waited for results prior to having intercourse, which is highly unlikely; then he once again knowingly placed himself, and any future partners including his wives at risk of contracting HIV AIDS.
Such a risk taker has no place being head of state of any modern democracy. Or perhaps he believes that he cannot be infected with HIV due to his exhalted position.
Mandrake,as far as i know,a girl can only be damaged once hence u only pay “inhlawulo”(cos u made her unmarriable) once and if she continues having more kids out of wedlock she is not considered damaged(too late) anymore.Snonono Khoza is a divorcee with 2 kids and i cant work out how Zuma damaged her.(Ungene kanjani uZuma esibayeni sika nomzana ngoba kudala savulwa?)@Larry,can u please be more specific about this surname story.
It’s all very well to say “hands off our president” - more pertinent is that the president should keep his hands off of us! Particulary the females among us! JZ has charm and charisma (quite clearly too much of it) and that is where it ends I’m afraid. Leadership qualities lack and he wouldn’t recognise dignity if it came up and slapped him in the face. Sad but true!
When both or one parent are at the hospital for the baby’s birth, then the official who records the birth gets the name and surname noted down from what the parents tell them, and registers the birth name with Home Affairs.
Larry, interesting in hearing your perception of surname adoption from an african view point.
George, uNxamalala ungene ngeChivas esbayeni. uKhoza yena wadla walala, waba uMsholozi naye esidla ke. But you do have a point. Inyala seems to be no longer applicable in this instance.
Come on guys, cant you see that this one way the president is counteracting the deleterious effects of HIV/AIDS. Our population is decimated by this dreaded disease. So is it not sensible for someone who is HIV negative to sow his wild oats far and wide? We are now assured of scion from the presidential brood! Let no one say that the president is not concerned about HIV/AIDS!
Surnames are not a matter of culture. If dad is prepared to register the child, or at least be present and willing, the baby can take his name. If not, the baby’s certificate reads: Father unknown.
“…the president’s private life is fast becoming a matter of national concern.” I don’t know. Sooner or later he’ll have had every girl in the land, which makes the odds of him escaping Aids in this lifetime, slight. Perhaps he tells them to ‘get tested’ before the action statrts.
Madoda on February 1st, 2010 at 2:13 pm
I always thought Solomon asked for wisdom which he apparently got. All these girls and immense wealth he got as a bonus, a sign for other kings at that time that he was a force to reckon with. Ramses the Great apparently fathered 200 kids which gave him respect in his world. He was a mighty warrior both in bed and on the battlefield and that counted for something. Then.
Nowadays having more kids than say two means more pressure on the environment and is frowned upon by many.
At least he does not deny doing it as the other president, what’s his name again?
I don’t have a problem with sex between consenting adults. But for me as a father bringing up a son and 2 daughters, the worrying thing here is the example the President sets (1) He fathers children with no thought of how he can bond with them, or how he would be there for them when they need to deal with questions of life, relationships, careers. (2) He treats women as objects and property, something that is horribly echoed by the men who support him on this page. (3) He seems to have a personal problem - more than just the average guy, and I would imagine that this takes his mind away from more pressing concerns he should have as president. When his kids grow up, will they be proud of him? Will his daughters see their goal in life to become someone’s wife #4? Do women feel respected and good about what they are reading about their president? On top of this, knowing something about the 98 year history of the ANC, its founding in a Methodist church in Bloemfontein, its early leadership, and arguably its greatest leader, Albert Luthuli, Zuma has clearly betrayed something of what the ANC was founded to achieve: not the gloating of Zulu patriarchal chauvinism, but the higher ideals of dignity, respect, human rights and a vision of what the world can be. Luthuli can only be crying in his grave for what this man has done.
[…] Thought Leader » Michael Trapido » Is Zuma’s sex drive out of control? www.thoughtleader.co.za/traps/2010/02/01/is-zuma-sex-drive-out-of-control – view page – cached Though many South Africans are of the view that polygamy is a lifestyle choice that is best left to those who decide to adopt it, the news that South African President Jacob Zuma has also fathered a child with Orlando Pirates owner Irvin Khoza’s daughter, may not sit quite as well. […]
Forget the text about Solomon. As Christians we no longer fall under the old testament. In the New Testament God said that should a man even look upon another woman once married he is committing adultry. He speaks about being the husband of one wife. The only reason for divorce is adultry. Many people will one day (Judgement Day) realise who the true law maker is. Jacob Zuma s only fooling himself. Remember we are determining where we will spend eternity right now!
You’re are talking from a legal perspective. My statement is based on my culture. Technically i can’t take the surname of a man who isn’t married to my mother.
But with westernization there’s a lot of grey areas or blurred borders.
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It is written in the bible that God blessed Solomon with many wives and children. Perhaps this is a sign of wisdom.
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