Zuma's actions inexcusable amid rate of HIV/Aids

The UN special envoy for Aids in Africa has criticised Zuma's sexual conduct

Stephen Lewis, the United Nations secretary-general special envoy for Aids in Africa, says Jacob Zuma's action of having unprotected sex with an HIV-positive woman was inexcusable coming from a leader whose country has one of the highest HIV/Aids infection rates in the world.

Lewis says the apology by Jacob Zuma, the former deputy president, for having unprotected sex with the woman will not make up for the harm done to efforts to fight the disease. Lewis says he does not think anything can compensate for the damage Zuma has done.

Zuma apologises unconditionally
Zuma was acquitted of raping an HIV positive family friend. He stunned observers during the trial when he said he took a shower after sex to minimise the risk of contracting HIV. He has since apologised. Lewis says this is not good enough and gave a harsh rejoinder to the apology saying Zuma had demonstrated ignorance on HIV/Aids by having unprotected sex with an HIV positive Aids activist.

Zuma apologised unconditionally yesterday, an apology the UN envoy sees as not good enough. The UN envoy says Zuma has a lot atone for and he is not sure that he has time left in his life for him to do so. The UN envoy asked members of Parliament from around the world to legislate laws on sexual violence and property rights to safeguard the welfare of women and children - two groups, he said, were most vulnerable to the ravages of Aids.