WERE it not for the fact that South Africa is being turned into a banana republic by the ruling ANC, President Jacob Zuma would be forced to resign as president because of the latest scandal over making a woman who is not his wife pregnant.

WERE it not for the fact that South Africa is being turned into a banana republic by the ruling ANC, President Jacob Zuma would be forced to resign as president because of the latest scandal over making a woman who is not his wife pregnant.

Not so long ago Zuma admitted to sleeping with an HIV-positive woman. Though he was found not guilty (of rape), he made some very embarrassing remarks, saying he took a shower after having sex with the woman to prevent being infected with HIV.

The woman was not only young enough to be his daughter she was also the daughter of a friend and comrade of the president.

Now the same president has admitted to having impregnated a woman in Soweto.

The latest episode involves the daughter of local organising committee chairman Irvin Khoza, who is also a friend of Zuma's.

What kind of a friend has a love relationship with the daughter of a friend?

What kind of a married man and president sleeps around and has sex without using a condom despite the risk of contracting HIV-Aids.

Must we hide our daughters when the president of the country is around because he is going to flirt with them?

Zuma is a poor role model and must be recalled. Unfortunately the ANC cannot not do that because many of its leaders owe their positions to Zuma's patronage. We are in a banana republic already.

Edgar M Madikwa, Cala