Zuma's people mum on 'his child'
2010-01-31 08:05
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Johannesburg - Presidential spokespeople were not available on Saturday night to comment on the Sunday Times story about President Jacob Zuma allegedly fathering a child with Irvin Khoza's daughter.
The newspaper quoted unidentified sources on the story with the Orlando Pirates boss's daughter, Sonono Khoza, 39, flatly denying the allegations.
"I don't know what you are talking about. I definitely do not know what you are talking about," she reportedly told the Sunday Times before terminating the call.
When her mother, Matina was asked how she felt about her new grandchild and that Zuma was the father, she: "No, we are not excited." She later said that she could not talk about the matter.
Sonono gave birth to baby Thandekile Matina Zuma on October 8, 2009 just three months before the President who is also a polygamist married his fifth wife.
The baby is nearly four months old now and was registered in her father's surname and she brings the number of Zuma's children to 20. He has 19 children with ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the late, Kate Zuma and his current wives and girlfriends.
According to a family friend, a two-member delegation from KwaZulu-Natal, acting on Zuma's behalf, visited the Khoza family in December last year to discuss the Zulu customary damages (inhlawulo) that are due when a child is born out of wedlock.
On the morning of Sunday, January 17, Zuma's motorcade was seen arriving at the Khoza's family home in Diepkloof Extension, Soweto. The President who was in Johannesburg to attend the ANC's national executive committee lekgotla held in Johannesburg between January 15 and 18, spent almost an hour with Sonono and her mother, Matina.
The "Iron Duke", as Khoza is affectionately known, was not home when both meetings took place. He is said to have told family friends that he felt betrayed by Msohlozi's relationship with Sonono as he considered him "a friend".
Sonono is a dirvocee with two children from her previous marriage. She is an events manager in the marketing division at Absa Bank's head office in Johannesburg.
- SAPA
