Zuma apologizes for illegitimate child

PRETORIA, South Africa, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- South African President Jacob Zuma, a father of 20 children, has apologized for the one he fathered out of wedlock.

"It has put a lot of pressure on my family and my organization, the African National Congress," he said in a statement Friday. "I deeply regret the pain that I have caused to my family, the ANC, the Alliance and South Africans in general."

The public apology came after at least one official accused Zuma of undermining South Africa's campaign to halt the spread of AIDS, The Daily Telegraph reported. Helen Zille, who heads the opposition Democratic Alliance, said Zuma is setting a bad example of promiscuity.

Zuma has made a payment of traditional damages to the family of Sonono Khoza, the mother of the child. She is the daughter of Irvin Khoza, chairman of the World Cup local organizing committee.

A defender of polygamy, Zuma married his fifth wife last month and is engaged to yet another woman.