17 May 2010, 06:32
By Mercury Reporters
Having declared last month that he was HIV-negative, President Jacob Zuma has openly spoken about being circumcised, in the hope that other men will follow his example and reduce the risk of contracting the virus.
In a frank interview with the New York Times on Friday, he said he had been circumcised "some time" ago and had encouraged his sons to undergo the procedure, which can reduce a man's risk of contracting HIV by more than half.
He hoped he would encourage other men to follow his lead by going public about his circumcision.
"It has been my style that I don't hide things. I thought it was important because that could help quite a few other people who, if I did not do it, would be hesitant and not knowing what to do," he said.
While those close to Zuma said they believed it was the first time the president had gone public about his circumcision, he had confirmed he was circumcised when questioned by his defence counsel Kemp J Kemp during his 2006 rape trial.
The New York Times said that despite being the centre of the epidemic - with 5.7 million HIV-positive people, more than any other country - South Africa had lagged behind some other African nations in promoting circumcision and making it public, steps experts believe could help reduce the spread of new infections.
Zuma was quoted as saying that he and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize had approached King Goodwill Zwelithini because they felt he should take the lead in the matter.
Zwelithini issued a call in December to restore the tradition of circumcision - though performed medically rather than by traditional practitioners.
The New York Times said Zuma had explained that since it was King Shaka who had stopped circumcisions many years ago, "it could only be another king who says 'I'm now opening it'."
The president also told the newspaper that critics had wrongly assumed he had carelessly risked HIV infection in his extramarital relationship.
He had told his own children that couples must openly discuss their HIV status to make informed choices. "That's why, after the child was born, I tested negative," he said. "And by the way, I did say it was my fourth time to test, which indicates I've been very careful."
He added: "Nobody's ever asked me that. Everyone jumped to conclusions."
The president, who has three wives and a fiancée, also talked about his personal relationships with "startling directness" and laid out his belief that a polygamous marriage in which HIV was openly discussed was safer than a monogamous union in which a man had hidden mistresses.
The newspaper quoted Jonny Steinberg, author of Sizwe's Test, showing the deep stigma still associated with Aids in rural SA.
"Everyone said we need a leader who can set an example. It just so happens we've thrown up a leader who makes a negative example, but it's good enough. It's started a conversation among ordinary people."
Zulu language and culture expert Mpumelelo Mbatha welcomed the president's openness, saying circumcision promoted "cleanliness" of the male genitals.
This article was originally published on page 1 of The Mercury on May 17, 2010
The Star
Comments by Sonny
So JZ is also a 'Round HeaD!"
Well done Bru........
There are many of us comrades who got the chop!
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