Former President Jacob Zuma and Nonkanyiso Conco in happier times. Picture: File.
Image: File
THE FAMILY of former South African president, Jacob Zuma, has issued a stern warning to the mother of his child, Nonkanyiso Conco, urging her to refrain from airing personal and intimate details about their relationship in public.
This comes after several video clips from Conco have been circulated recently, revealing alleged details about her past relationship with Zuma, who is now the leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP).
They have a 6-year-old son.
In one video, the former Real Housewives of Durban reality star shared the details about her first encounter with Zuma, who was still the head of state when they met.
“JZ (Zuma) is a gentleman. The first time I visited him, we slept late, and the next morning, he was up very early. He had already bathed when I woke up. He expressed his excitement that I had visited him,” said Conco in one of the videos.
The behind-the-scenes intimate revelations have sparked widespread media attention and public debate, with many speculating about the nature of their relationship and the potential impact it could have on Zuma’s legacy.
During an exclusive interview with the Daily News, Zuma’s brother, Khanya, who also lives in Nkandla, expressed concern about the public disclosure of his brother's private matters.
“First and foremost, it is not right for any person to reveal bedroom secrets to the entire world. It is not right. She must stop what she is doing. I am talking as his (Zuma) brother. I don’t like what she (Conco) is doing,” said Khanya.
He stated that such actions "undermine family values" and violate the "trust and respect" that should be upheld between former partners.
He emphasised that while personal issues may arise in any relationship, publicising them could harm both the involved individuals and their children.
"We understand that emotions and hurt feelings may sometimes lead people to speak out, but it is important that we respect one another’s privacy," Khanya stated.
He said: "This is not just about the past; it is about protecting the dignity of all parties involved, especially their child."
Zuma is known to jealously guard against leaking his affairs to the public.
Said Khanya: “My brother always tries by all means to keep his affairs away from the public by all means necessary. I am not saying she should not talk about her love affair, but there must be a respectful way to do this. You can’t tell the whole world about your bedroom encounters unprovoked,” he said.
Khanya said he had not raised the matter with Zuma, stating: “I will talk to him when he is not busy, about this serious matter.”
Conco claims in one video clip that Zuma paid lobola for her.
The mother of Zuma’s child has yet to respond to the family’s warning publicly. However, her recent statements to the media have already raised eyebrows, with some speculating about her motivations for sharing such private details.
Zuma has yet to comment on the situation directly. However, Khanya stated that they wished to handle the matter quietly and without further public confrontation.
For now, the ongoing saga has captured the attention of both the media and the South African public, with many following the latest developments closely. As tensions mount, it remains to be seen whether the matter will be resolved privately or whether further revelations will come to light in the coming weeks.
Repeated attempts for comment from Conco were unsuccessful as her phone was constantly on voicemail.
The Daily News approached the MKP spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhela, who did not respond at the time of publication.
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