President's Escapades Could Scuttle AIDS Fight. 2/2/10

Reports on president's unprotected sex can harm HIV response.

Reports that President Jacob Zuma had unprotected, extramarital sex could harm the government's HIV and Aids prevention efforts and its campaign against multiple sexual partners, Lovelife has warned.

Lovelife promotes HIV and Aids awareness and youth development programmes around the country.
The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) has also criticised Zuma for "setting a bad example" and "not walking the talk" after claims that he fathered a love child with the daughter of soccer boss Irvin Khoza.

The Sunday Times reported that four-month-old Thandekile Matina, born to Sonono Khoza, 39, was given Zuma's surname and registered as his daughter.

This brought the number of his known children to 20.
Lovelife's spokesperson Botha Swarts said while the organisation was encouraged by the stance taken by Zuma's administration on the fight against HIV and Aids, the latest reports could have "damaging effects" on the government's struggle against the pandemic.

"We are encouraged by the fact that his government has come out and taken a stand on the HIV and Aids fight. We salute their efforts on multiple sexual partners.

"We really hope that the government will continue with its objectives on HIV and Aids prevention. We are unable to comment on the president's private life, however, we think that such allegations could harm government's prevention efforts," he said.

Swarts said he hoped that young South Africans were "intelligent enough" to distinguish between right and wrong, regardless of their role model's actions.

"Young people in South Africa are not totally unintelligent. To a certain degree they are able to distinguish between elements that may lead to high risk behaviour regardless of an individual's status or their private lives," he said.
TAC's general secretary, Vuyiseka Dubula, said it was "disappointing" to learn of Zuma's alleged extramarital affairs.
"We don't see Zuma as a role model for how men and women should behave," she said.