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[Dr Clive Evian]

1.)    Is the President's private life and his sexual encounters of consequence to HIV/AIDS policy in South Africa? If so, how?

 

Of course it is. Controlling an HIV epidemic needs leadership especially in changing current sexual practices. Political coomittemtn includes leading by example, Zuma has failed with distinction!!!

 

2.)    What is the media's duty towards Zuma's right to privacy?  Did he as a public, political figure give up his right to privacy when he took up office as the President?

 

As President of the country you forgo most of your rights to privacy. The job comes with huge benefits and honor, but it also comes with exposure and transparency. TI need to know who the leader of my country is and what is his morality and ethics. This helps me to decide if I want him to be my leader!!!

 

3.)    Can the public expect Zuma to "be faithful" to his wives, or practice safe sex, or is that a matter of private, sexual morality? Does he bear a greater responsibility towards "being faithful" than other public figures (for example, sporting heroes Tiger Woods and John Terry whose extramarital affairs have also recently been exposed in the media)? Why, or why not?

The public can expect a demonstration of uprightness and high moral and ethical integrity, If being unfaithful to 3 wives after an original apology (the rape trial and shower issue) etc, the public can should expect a demonstration of faithfulness as part of his commitment to his ‘culture’ and to the needs of SA

 

4.) The "Recognition of the Customary Marriages Act" of 1998 gives the right to a man to marry multiple women [polyga my], but not necessarily to women to marry multiple men [polyandry] under customary law.  Customary law is defined in the Act as "“customary law” means the customs and usages traditionally observed among the indigenous African peoples of South Africa and which form part of the culture of those peoples"

Does the existence of this Act undercut AIDS prevention work on multiple, concurrent partnerships and "being faithful"?  Or should we re-conceptualise what "marriage" means in 21st Century South Africa?

 

Yes reconceptualise this, I would think women should have the same right. Also in a polgymous society committing adultery is a serious risk to all those in the polygamous relationship group so in effect Zuma may have put his 3 wives and their unborn babies at risk for HIV. Hepatitis B and C, syphilis, etc

 

 

 

Dr Clive Evian

AIDS Management and Support

Email: drc...@icon.co.za

P.O.Box 92022 Norwood 2117 RSA

Tel: (+27 )  0 11 7866492  Fax (+27 ) 0865044425 or (+27) 0 11 7866492

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