JOHANNESBURG — South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, reacting to a firestorm of criticism, has apologized for fathering a child with a woman who was not one of his wives.
In a statement Saturday, the 67-year-old president said the birth had put pressure on his family and his political organization, the African National Congress. He also acknowledged the anger of South Africans over the matter.
Mr. Zuma officially has three wives and 19 children. He is an avowed polygamist in a country where the practice is accepted. But many of those who voted for him, and who have defended his right to hew to the Zulu tradition of multiple wives, seem less accepting about the most recent affair.
After a South African newspaper first reported the love child last week, a public furor followed. President Zuma waited until Wednesday to admit paternity, but then blamed the media for invading his family's privacy.
By Saturday, the apology came.
The mother of the new baby is Sonono Khoza, the daughter of Irving Khoza. Mr. Khoza was part of the team that helped win South Africa's right to host the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. President Zuma said he was making payments to the Khoza family.
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