South Africa says ZIP IT!
2010-02-06 18:18
By Sandiso Phaliso, Sabelo Ndlangisa,
Loyiso Sidimba, George Matlala,
Gershwin Chuenyane
MPUMALANGA
Dr Ope Oduntan
“People who voted him into power knew that he had multiple wives. It is not a problem if he is practising his culture. If you’re talking about him being a role model for the youth then he must stop marrying more women. But, if you’re referring to him enjoying himself and his wives having no problem, I won’t ask him to stop.”
Siva Ramsamy
“The damage is done already, there is nothing you can do about it. These are two different things, this man is a good president if you over look all that.”
Ntombi Shabangu
“It is not a private matter, he is the president of the country he should lead by example. He is embarrasing blacks, white people are already talking. Helen Zille has already said something.”
Bulelwa Sanela
“He is not representing us well. He must stop marrying more women. He is using culture as an excuse, he is just like Tiger Woods.
Sonia Antonio
“He proved he didn’t know much about the disease with his stupid comments about the shower. In countries like the US they would have tried to impeach him.”
Marthinus Pelzer
“If culture is used as an excuse to sleep around then it is a problem. It’s quite common these days to have children out of wedlock, but once you’re married you shouldn’t be sleeping around.”
Curious Matsana
“It’s his culture. He is the king and therefore must have many wives. But, he must use a condom because unprotected sex is not right.”
Phukubje Moshwaneng
“What we don’t know is whether Zuma knew the status of all his women before sleeping with them.”
Sthembile Simelani
“Guys are already cheating without condoms. At least he’s doing it openly. Polygamy is not against the law and with all the love from all his women, we will at least have a happy president.”
FREE STATE
Pule Radimo
“According to African tradition, we are allowed to marry 20 women as long as you can maintain them. As long as Zuma can still do it and afford, he should continue. But sleeping around without a condom is not right.”
Thabo Senyaka from Bloemfontein
“He has to stop taking more women because more people will want to be like him and also want more partners. We had (former president Thabo) Mbeki and (Nelson) Mandela and there were no such things. Look at (Barak) Obama, he does not have scandals.”
Marriam Dimpane, a pensioner
“This is not a black culture. What is he teaching the nation? What he is doing is wrong. Young people please use condoms when having sex.”
Patricia Mapheelle, a single mother of four
“Men no longer care about women because of polygamy. The president is breaking up homes. My children are suffereing because their father has left them to live with another woman.”
Phakiso Tshoho from Tweespruit
“What is Zuma teaching the nation? We will end up doing this polygamy) because he is doing it. Young people must use condoms during sexual intercourse.
Mothobi Mashie – a taxi driver
“We are poor, he is not looking at us, but his women. We want better health and roads, not many women. We want him to lead by example. It was corruption and now many wives?”
Nokhontoni Mokheledi
“This is not culture; he is just being silly. This is nonsense because there are condoms and things like family planning. Young people are following his example.”
Bernhardt Beetge
“It is totally unacceptable that every time he put his foot wrong everyone attacks him. However, if Zuma’s private life continues to be scandalous, it could harm the presidency.”
Neo Motete (20) a hawker
“It is their culture to marry many women. We must leave him alone. It is wrong to have unprotected sex. You must have sex when you are married and responsible.”
Jenna Nelson, student at UFS
“We pay higher taxes to support his kids. Polygamy is wrong.”
EASTERN CAPE
Siya Abrahams (23) , Port Elizabeth
“Zuma should be showing that he uses condoms. There’s too much HIV/Aids in South Africa yet he’s not setting a good example. Polygamy is unacceptable and even worse now that there is “umakhwapheni” (an adulterous relationship) on the side.”
Postdam West resident Sindiswa Sibulali (55)
“He is using taxpayers’ money to support his wives.”
Vick Blayi (21), East London
“What will future leaders learn from him. All that’s important to him is impregnating people’s children.”
Andisiwe Petane, Middledrift Eastern Cape
“He’s busy with his wives and not keeping his election promises. Why doesn’t he stop?”
Nkqonkqweni village resident Nolisolethu Jack (45)
“Young men will forever want to get married but I’ll never be in a polygamous relationship. Zuma is scandal-prone and is using funds that could develop poor areas to appease his wives.”
Vuyisile Shweni (65), Mdantsane
“He should be satisfied with his wives because he’s the president. What are other nations saying about our president? He should consider having a vasectomy.”
Luvuyo Ngqavu (31), Postdam
“Residents of the Postdam West informal settlement draw water from a single communal tap while Zuma’s wives and kids take never-ending baths.”
Phumlani Libata (18), Colesberg, Northern Cape
“Zuma is wrong to have unprotected sex outside his marriages. He doesn’t even know Sonono Khoza’s HIV status.”
Bahle Ntoyakhe (20), East London
“Zuma must apologise to the nation for having unprotected sex out of wedlock. We’re fighting HIV/Aids but he goes the opposite direction by not practising what he preaches.”
Mthuthuzeli Nogwebu, Mdantsane, East London
“Things are going wrong due to Africans adopting other people’s culture. Zuma has admitted that he’s able to satisfy his wives.”
East London fisherman and pensioner Brian Lottering (60
“I’m not saying polygamy is right or wrong because it’s from the bible days. What’s wrong now?”
Themba Magwaza (44)
“He will break (biblical king) Solomon’s record easily. I think it’s enough now, he must stop. His kids will go hungry one day if he continues.The other problem will be with younger wives because they have different needs physically and materially. They will end up cheating on him.”
Vele Nduli ( 48-year-old polygamist)
“Zuma is not wrong to grow his house. It is only wrong when you deny that you have wronged another family (by impregnating its daughter and not acknowledging the baby). So I see nothing wrong with what he has done. A man doesn’t grow old and he can continue to impregnate women outside marriage even if he has 15 wives. However, he has made a mistake. I agree with those who criticize him for not using a condom. This issue should have been discussed by the chiefs and the izinduna and should not have been publicized. This way they are robbing him of his dignity. He maybe wrong, but he should not have been treated this way.”
Frans Nduli (56)
“I don’t see anything wrong because he admitted that the child is his. In Zulu culture this is acceptable as long as you admit the child is yours and you pay damages. At least he is not destroying his family. He is bringing everyone together. It is better than having kids scattered all over the place.”
Anonymous, 46 and polygamous (anonymous because she does not have her husband’s permission to talk)
“Had I known, I would not have married into isithembu (polygamous family). Affairs are not acceptable, but you cannot stop the men. As a woman you are not supposed to have an affair. Why must a man have secret affairs? If a woman does she will be called isifebe (slut) but if a man does she will be called isoka (a player). What he did was not in line with what he teaches.”
NKANDLA
Mziyanda Sikhakhane (husband of 3 and father of 22 from rural Nkandla)
“I think what he did disagrees with Zulu culture. But he will take care of the
child. People must understand that message (of condoms) because the disease affects everyone. They will be making a big mistake if they don’t want to understand it.”
A local school teacher who asked not to be named
“Two wives were okay. Having more than two is too much. Maybe he should stop now.”
Thami Sosibo (29)
“Having a child out of wedlock is a man’s life. It’s something you can’t avoid if you are a man. You can say you will only have one partner, but when you get a chance (to cheat) you will take advantage of it. Zuma’s a president but he is also a man. Because he has power and gets things done easily, he also gets tempted (by women).”
Themba Magwaza (44)
“Zuma will break (biblical king) Solomon’s record easily. I think it’s enough now, he must stop. His kids will go hungry one day if he continues. The other problem will be with younger wives because they have different needs physically and materially. They will end up cheating on him.”
WESTERN CAPE
Nicolas Dray, 25, sales consultant
“Having unprotected sex and a child out of wedlock confuse me, because he is always talking about young people needing to practise safe sex. It is not for me to judge him, but he is not leading by example…he should practise what he preaches because he is the father of the nation.
Thandeka Nzuza, 26, waiter
“We cannot judge him, but he must just be responsible and make sure all his children and wives are taken care of.
Moa Marlous, 49, sales assistant
“Having unprotected sex is a disgrace for the country. He goes to conferences preaching to people to have one partner and practise safe sex, but he does the opposite.”
Wouter Hugo, 36, restaurant manager
“Set an example for the youth instead of sleeping around without protection. He (said during World Aids Day) that people must practise safe sex - and now he does the opposite. What should we do?”
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Lydia Maseko, 50, provincial government official
“Every household is affected by HIV/Aids and the president must do things right and give us a clear message on how to tackle the killer disease. Unprotected sex brings unwanted children.