What The Attacks On Jacob Zuma’s HIV And Marriage Views Really Show

The big news in South Africa is that President Jacob Zuma fathered a child through an extra-marital affair. The Christian Democratic Alliance of South Africa is calling for him to resign labeling Tiger Woods, Bill Clinton, and Henry the VIII all in one.
This isn’t the first time Zuma’s sex life has been brought to the attention of South African politics. A polygamist with three wives (which is commonplace among people with Zulu ancestry), while Deputy President Zuma was charged with rape against a family friend. Those charges, of course, quickly disappeared. There are also rumors of him taking a shower after unprotected sex thinking that would protect him from contracting HIV/AIDS.
It’s difficult to tell whether leaking the news about Zuma’s love child is meant to cast Zuma as an out of control sex-addict, or whether it’s supposed to highlight South Africa’s struggle to encourage safe sex.
South African HIV/AIDS governmental policy only recently changed its stance on how to prevent the virus, with Zuma leading the movement.
Though the Democratic Alliance strategically seized this moment, the attention isn’t focused singly on Zuma’s contradictory HIV/AIDS policy and personal sex life. It’s clearly an effort to slander Zuma as much as possible. The criticism of Zuma’s polygamy is reminiscent of apartheid period discrimination and vilification of different traditional practices. This isn’t a defense of Zuma’s truly dangerous views on AIDS prevention. Zuma should be held accountable for his actions. But he should not have to defend his religion or tribal practices against allegations that they are what make him irresponsible or a bad leader. Those attacks are antiquated and only function to encourage the mindset of apartheid government.

–Lexie Tourek