President Jacob Zuma had undermined the struggle against HIV/Aids by having unprotected sex again, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Sunday.

This, after the Sunday Times reported that he fathered a love-child with the daughter of soccer boss Irvin Khoza.

"President Jacob Zuma's behaviour directly contradicts the government's campaign against multiple sexual partners, and the inherent Aids risk in having unprotected sex," said DA leader Helen Zille in a statement.

All the president's men were mum about the baby girl, reportedly born to Sonono Khoza (39) on 8 October last year.

Child number 20?

The Sunday Times reported that the child, Thandekile Matina, was given Zuma's surname and was registered as his daughter. He now has 20 children.

Zuma's behaviour was "in stark contrast" to the government's efforts to promote safe sex through condom use, especially in the case of multiple sexual partners, Zille said.

She likened Zuma's behaviour to that of former president Thabo Mbeki, whose denialist stance on HIV/Aids was found, by a Harvard University to have possibly contributed to the deaths of more than 300 000 South Africans during his tenure.

"South Africa now has a president who, both through his words and actions, is doing similar damage to the struggle (against HIV/Aids) — a life and death struggle for millions of South Africans," Zille said.

In 2006, Zuma was acquitted of raping the HIV-infected daughter of a close family friend.

Judge Willem van der Merwe found that Zuma had consensual sex with her.

"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," Zuma said after his acquittal.

Sending the 'wrong message'

However, Zille said on Sunday that "that acknowledgement has faded from his memory, and he has once again succeeded in sending the wrong message to the South African people".

Zuma's spokesperson Zizi Kodwa could not immediately comment on the love-child claim on Sunday. Presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya could not be reached. Also not available telephonically was Irvin Khoza. His voicemail was full.

Khoza chairs Orlando Pirates and the World Cup Local Organising Committee and is vice-president of the South African Football Association.

He shared a stage with Zuma during his post-election celebration at his Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal in June 2009 and received an honorary doctorate in philosophy from the University of Zululand in 2004, when Zuma was its chancellor.

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