Johannesburg, South Africa (CNN) -- South Africa's president has apologized for fathering a child out of wedlock after his admission prompted an outcry from critics who said he was undermining the nation's health campaign.
"I deeply regret the pain that I have caused to my family, the ANC, the Alliance and South Africans in general," President Jacob Zuma said in a statement Saturday. "The matter, though private, has ... put a lot of pressure on my family and my organization, the African National Congress."
Zuma is a member of the Zulu culture, which practices polygamy. He has three wives and 19 children, according to his Web site.
Last week, the president confirmed that he had a relationship with a woman who gave birth to his child.
"I reiterate that I took responsibility for my actions towards the family concerned and the child," he said.
Polygamy is legal in South Africa, but remains a contentious subject. Zuma has faced criticism from opponents who say the practice is out of step with modern times and unfair to women.
He vowed to focus on a commitment to fight HIV/AIDS in the country, which has one of the highest rates in the world.
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