Zuma’s love child with friend’s daughter

President Jacob Zuma is reported to have fathered a child with the daughter of a long-time friend, Irvin Khoza, according to the Sunday Times of South Africa.

This brings to 20 the number of children known to have been fathered by President Zuma — along with the 19 he is officially said to have had, with his ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Kate Zuma, who has since died, and his current wives and girlfriends.

The birth of Baby Thandekile Matina Zuma, now nearly four months old, on October 8 last year, came barely three months before the country’s most famous polygamist tied the knot for the fifth time.

Unborn grandchild

Baby Thandekile’s mother, Ms Sonono Khoza, who is a 39-year-old divorcée, was pregnant when her father, who is the Orlando Pirates boss and chairman of the soccer World Cup local organising committee, was invited to share the stage with the newly-elected president during a post-election bash at Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, in June last year.

It is unclear whether the “Iron Duke”, as he is known, knew then who was the father of his unborn grandchild.

Ms Sonono, who has two other children from a previous marriage, is an events manager of a Johannesburg bank.

A close family friend told the Sunday Times that a delegation from KwaZulu-Natal, acting on Mr 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 January 17, Mr Zuma visited the Khoza family, and spent almost an hour with Ms Sonono and her mother, Ms Matina.

When the Sunday Times contacted Ms Sonono for comment on Friday, she said: “I don’t know what you are talking about,” before terminating the call. She did not respond to an SMS asking for comment.

Asked how she felt about her new grandchild and the fact that Mr Zuma was the father, Ms Matina responded: “No, we are not excited.”

Mr Khoza, whose youngest daughter, Zodwa, died of Aids-related complications in 2006, was not home for either of the two meetings.

Felt betrayed

Several family friends told the Sunday Times that Mr Khoza felt betrayed and humiliated by the president’s relationship with his daughter, particularly as he considered Mr Zuma — who is six years older than him — a friend.

Mr Khoza was awarded an honorary doctorate in philosophy from the University of Zululand for his role in the development of sport while Mr Zuma was chancellor of the institution in 2004.

Repeated attempts to speak to Mr Khoza about the matter were unsuccessful.

The president left Switzerland on Sunday and is now in Ethiopia for an African Union summit.

Mr Zuma’s spokesman, Mr Vincent Magwenya, refused to comment yesterday. Mr Zuma’s younger brother, Mr Michael Zuma, said he was unaware of the child or the relationship.

The addition to Mr 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, Mr Zuma said: “I erred in having unprotected sex. I should have known better and acted with greater caution and responsibility.”

In clearing Mr 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. (Sunday Times)