If the President doesn't like public scrutiny, he can resign
Today, the ANC again attempted to squash criticism of President Jacob Zuma's admission that he had extra-marital, unprotected sex, insisting that it is "very personal and private" (see statement).
This is nonsense. When public representatives do things that have public consequences, they must be subject to public scrutiny. It is called accountability. It is the essence of democracy.
As the elected President of our Republic, Jacob Zuma needs to accept that his behaviour will be held up for public scrutiny. If he doesn't like this, he is free to resign.
It may be justifiable for someone like Tiger Woods to insist that his extra-marital activity is private. What he did has a bearing on nobody but his family and those close to him.
Elected leaders, on the other hand, must be held to a higher standard. If their actions contradict their stated public positions (not to mention their government's policies) they must answer for that. And they must lead by example. If they do not, the public have every right to criticise and hold them accountable.