Love-child is mine, says Zuma

2010-02-03 18:20

Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday confirmed his relationship and his child with Sonono Khoza and added that he had taken responsibility for his actions.

"I have done the necessary cultural imperatives in a situation of this nature, for example the formal acknowledgement of paternity and responsibility, including the payment of inhlawulo [damages] to the family," Zuma said in a statement issued on his behalf by the presidency.

"The matter is now between the two of us, and culturally, between the Zuma and Khoza families."

Exploited

Zuma bemoaned the naming of the child's parents in public, which had "essentially exposed her to the public, which has serious implications in the long-term for her, and amounts to the exploitation referred to in the [Children's] Act, because the media is making money out of the matter".

He described it as "unfortunate" that the individuals involved were being "unfairly subjected to harsh media exposure merely because of the position" he occupied.

"The media is also in essence questioning the right of the child to exist and fundamentally, her right to life. It is unfortunate that the matter has been handled in this way," he said.

Zuma said the rights of the media were respected and upheld, but his own rights and that of the child and its mother were also to be respected.

Rights

"These rights cannot be waived just because of a position one occupies. I would request that the dignity and privacy of the affected individuals in this matter be respected."

The child was reportedly born on October 8, three months before Zuma - a polygamist - married for a fifth time. The baby girl was said to be the president's 20th child.

"I said during World Aids Day that we must all take personal responsibility for our actions. I have done so."

Zuma was out of the country when the news of the child broke, but after "careful deliberation" he opted to comment on the "otherwise intensely personal" matter.

- SAPA