He was Mandela's heir. Now he's accused of raping woman who called him Uncle

The Times (U.K.) ^ | March 7, 2006 | Jonathan Clayton

[Stoat]

He was Mandela's heir. Now he's accused of raping woman who called him Uncle

From Jonathan Clayton in Johannesburg
 

HE ASPIRED to be South Africa’s next leader and considered himself the rightful heir to Nelson Mandela’s legacy, a black man ready to lead his people to peace and prosperity.

But yesterday Jacob Zuma stood in the dock in a Johannesburg courtroom accused of rape, his quest for the presidency apparently in ruins. As political demises go, it could hardly have been more dramatic.

A hushed courtroom listened as an HIV-positive Aids activist recounted in graphic detail on the first day of his trial how she had been raped by the trusted friend of her family.

Mr Zuma, 63, pleaded not guilty to the rape charges, but admitted consensual sex with the woman, who stayed the night at his house.

Inside the courtroom, the chants of about 2,000 Zuma supporters, could be heard as the 31-year-old woman, who says that Mr Zuma knew of her condition, told of how a man she regarded as “an uncle” had sex with her against her will and without using a condom.

In a country with one of the highest known HIV/Aids infection rates in the world, it is a damning statement. Commentators say that even if Mr Zuma is cleared his political career is in ruins.

Supporters say that he is the victim of a political assassination and that rape is the most damaging charge imaginable.

Opponents allege that it is a political suicide brought on by the arrogance of power.

Whatever the truth — and most people believe that it will never be known — until the middle of last year, Mr Zuma, a charismatic politician popular with the grassroots, was riding high, confident of the top job in a matter of years.

Then he was named in an arms corruption scandal, involving his financial adviser, and fired. He now faces a separate trial on bribery and corruption charges next July, but he was in the middle of a heated fightback when he was hit by the rape allegations.

Allies on the left wing of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and trade unions, irked by President Mbeki’s free-market economic policies and lack of consultation, claim that Mr Zuma is the victim of a political vendetta that goes to the top of the ANC. His critics say that he is his own worst enemy and that he failed to understand the ANC’s evolution from liberation movement to responsible government. Only this, they say, can explain him singing old battle songs such as Bring Me My Machine Gun at rallies.

The most politically explosive trial in South Africa since the end of apartheid was delayed for several weeks after three successive judges stood down, citing conflicts of interest. The last said that his sister’s child had been fathered by Mr Zuma more than 20 years ago.

South Africa has one of the highest incidences of rape in the world. It is such an emotive issue that even close allies feel they have to distance themselves from Mr Zuma. Even he must have realised the end was near when he heard the alleged victim’s testimony.

The woman, who said that she had known him since she was 5, told the High Court how Mr Zuma came into her bedroom and offered to “tuck her in”.

After she said “No”, he then allegedly removed her bed cover and began to massage her. “At that point I opened my eyes and saw that he was naked.” she told the court.

“I thought ‘oh no, uncle (Zuma) cannot be naked, he is on top of me and I am in his house’,” the woman sobbed. “I thought this can’t be happening. And at that point I faced reality that I was just about to be raped.”

Mr Zuma, who served in the ANC’s armed wing and was imprisoned on Robben Island, had entered the court amid tight security. He was asked by the chief prosecutor Charin de Beer if he had “unlawfully and intentionally assaulted an adult female and had sexual intercourse with her”.

He stood up and, in a strong voice, replied “not guilty”.

Mr Zuma said in a statement that the woman had come to his home in Johannesburg and that they had “intercourse which lasted for some time and was consensual”. He said: “She had a cellphone which she could have used and she could have left the place at any time.”

FIGHTER TURNED POLITICIAN
 

• Jacob Zuma, born April 12, 1942
  
   
• Joined ANC in 1959, arrested in 1963, jailed for ten years on Robben island
  
   
• Head of ANC's intelligence wing
  
   
• 1994 elected ANC chairman
  
   
• Appointed in 1999 as Vice-President

  WHERE WOMEN ARE VICTIMS

• 55,000 rapes were reported in South Africa last year

   

• That equates to 118 per 100,000 people, compared with about 23 per 100,000 in England and Wales
  
   
• There has been a 23 per cent increase in reported rapes since the ANC won post-apartheid elections in 1994
  
   
• In the same period, the number of reported sexual assaults has more than doubled to more than 10,000
   
• In 1998 fewer than 7 per cent of reported rapes were prosecuted
  
   
• Approximately one third of women raped in South Africa who do not receive anti-retroviral drugs will become HIV positive (Source: South African Police Service and People Opposing Women Abuse)

[Stoat]

More from South Africa:

Kate on coke at Mandela's (Kate Moss said to have snorted cocain at Nelson Mandela's house)

[Stoat]

Biography of Jacob Zuma

JACOB GEDLEYIHLEKISA ZUMA

Deputy President of the ANC

Deputy President of the ANC (since 1997)
Member of ANC NWC, NEC
Former Deputy President in the South African Government (1999-2005)

Jacob Zuma was born on 12 April 1942 in Inkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province.

His father died at the end of World War II, after which his mother took up employment as a domestic worker in Durban. He spent his childhood moving between Zululand and the suburbs of Durban, and by age 15 took on odd jobs to supplement his mother’s income.

Owing to his deprived childhood, Jacob Zuma did not receive any formal schooling. Heavily influenced by a trade unionist family member, he became involved in politics at an early age and joined the African National Congress in 1959. He became an active member of Umkhonto We Sizwe in 1962, following the banning of the ANC in 1960.

While on his way out of the country in 1963, he was arrested with a group of 45 recruits near Zeerust in what was then the western Transvaal (now the Northern West Province). Convicted of conspiring to overthrow the government, he was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, which he served on Robben Island.

After his release, Jacob Zuma helped mobilise internal resistance and was instrumental in the re-establishment of ANC underground structures in the then Natal province, (KwaZulu-Natal) between 1973 and 1975.

He left South Africa in 1975 and for the next 12 years, based first in Swaziland and then Mozambique, dealt with thousands of young exiles who poured out of South Africa in the wake of the Soweto uprising.

He lived in several African countries working for the ANC, where he rose rapidly through the ranks to become a member of the ANC National Executive Committee in 1977. He also served as Deputy Chief Representative of the ANC in Mozambique, a post he occupied until the signing of the Nkomati Accord between the Mozambican and South African governments in 1984. After signing the Accord, he was appointed as Chief Representative of the ANC and was one of a few who remained in Mozambique to carry out the work of the organisation, crossing in and out of South Africa on a number of occasions.

Jacob Zuma was forced to leave Mozambique in January 1987 after considerable pressure on the Mozambican government by the PW Botha regime. He moved to the ANC Head Office in Lusaka, Zambia, where he was appointed Head of Underground Structures and shortly thereafter Chief of the Intelligence Department.

He served on the ANC’s political and military council when it was formed in the mid-80s.

Following the unbanning of the ANC in February 1990, he was one of the first ANC leaders to return to South Africa to begin the process of negotiations, and was instrumental in organising the Groote Schuur Minute between the FW de Klerk regime and the ANC that reached important decisions about the return of exiles and the release of political prisoners.

In 1990, at the first Regional Congress of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), he was elected Chairperson of the Southern Natal region and took a leading role in fighting violence in the region. This resulted in a number of Peace Accords involving the ANC and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)

In 1991, at the first ANC National Conference held in South Africa after the unbanning of the organisation, he was elected the Deputy Secretary General of the ANC.

In January 1994, he was nominated as the ANC candidate for the Premiership of the KZN province. He is generally regarded as the person most instrumental in achieving the peace that is now enjoyed by the people of KZN and in October 1998 he was honoured with the Nelson Mandela Award for Outstanding Leadership in Washington DC, USA.

After the first national democratic elections in South Africa in 1994, Jacob Zuma was appointed as Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) of Economic Affairs and Tourism for the KZN provincial government.

He is also a patron of the KZN Reconstruction and Development Project (RDP) Bursary Fund, which is linked to the RDP section of the Department of Economic Affairs and Tourism. He established this bursary fund, using funds that each cabinet member of the KZN province was given to use on any project of their choice. Owing to his rural background and empathy for the poorest of the poor, he decided to use his allocation to help educate poor people in rural areas by establishing the bursary fund. The fund focuses mainly on primary school children in the rural areas but has, from 1999, started assisting students at tertiary institutions. There is currently in excess of 1,000 pupils being assisted at primary level and 10 at tertiary institutions.

In December 1994, Jacob Zuma was elected National Chairperson of the ANC and chairperson of the ANC in KZN. He was re-elected to the latter position in 1996.

He was elected Deputy President of the ANC at the National Conference held at Mafikeng in December 1997.

Jacob Zuma was appointed Executive Deputy President of South Africa in June 1999.

---

Profile of Jacob Zuma


Personal

• Date of birth: 12 April 1942, Inkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.

Current Positions

• Executive Deputy President of South Africa (17 June 1999)
• Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly (June 1997)
• Deputy President of the ANC (December 1997)
• Chairperson of the South African National Aids Council
• Chancellor, University of Zululand
• Patron of the Jacob Zuma Bursary Fund (since 1998)
• Patron of the Peace and Reconstruction Foundation
• Patron of the Albert Luthuli Education and Development Foundation

Career/Memberships/Positions/Other Activities

• Heavily influenced by a family member who was a trade unionist, he became involved in politics at an early age.
• Joined the African National Congress (ANC) (1958).
• Became an active member of Umkhonto We Sizwe (1962).
• Whilst on his way out of the country, he was arrested with a group of 45 recruits near Zeerust in the North West Province.(1963)
• Convicted of conspiring to overthrow the government, he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on Robben Island. (1963)
• After his release in December 1973, he worked to mobilise internal resistance and was instrumental in the re-establishment of ANC underground structures in the then Natal, now KwaZulu-Natal. (1974-1975)
• Left South Africa in 1975 and for the next 12 years was based first in Swaziland and then Mozambique. During this period he was involved in underground work with President Mbeki and others, giving leadership to the ANC structures operating inside South Africa. He also dealt with the thousands of young exiles that poured out of South Africa in the wake of the Soweto uprising in June 1976
• Lived in several African countries working for the ANC and rose rapidly through the ranks to become a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ANC (1977)
• Served as Deputy Chief Representative and later Chief Representative of the ANC in Mozambique, until 1984, the year of the signing of the Nkomati Accord between the Mozambican and South African governments.
• Served on the ANC’s Political-Military Committee and the Political Committee when it was formed in the mid 80’s.
• Appointed Head of Underground Structures and shortly thereafter, Chief of the Intelligence Department at the ANC Head Office in Lusaka, Zambia. (1987)
• Was one of the first ANC leaders to return to South Africa to begin the process of negotiation, following the unbanning of the ANC. (1990)
• Instrumental in organising the Groote-Schuur Minute between the FW de Klerk Government and the ANC that reached important decisions about the return of exiles and the release of political prisoners. (1990)
• Elected Chairperson of the Southern Natal and took a leading role in fighting violence in the region, this resulted in a number of Peace Accords involving the ANC and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) (1990)
• Elected the Deputy Secretary General of the ANC during the National Conference held in South Africa after the unbanning of the organisation. (1991)
• Deployed in KwaZulu-Natal because he felt that he had a role to play in bringing about peace and stability in the then highly volatile region. (1994)
• Nominated as the ANC candidate for the Premiership of the KZN Province.(1994)
• Appointed Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) of Economic Affairs and Tourism for the KZN provincial government. (1994)
• Elected National Chairperson of the ANC and Chairperson of the ANC in KZN. (December 1994)

Awards/Decorations/Bursaries

• Honoured with the Nelson Mandela Award for Outstanding Leadership in Washington DC, US. (1998)
• Received an Honorary Doctorate of Literature from the University of Fort Hare (2001)
• Received an Honorary Doctorate of Administration from the University of Zululand (2001)
• Received an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from Medical University of Southern Africa (2001)

Source: The Presidency, 12 July 2001

[Slump Tester]

Evidently he likes them skinny.

[Sometimes A River]

This is par for the course in Africa.

Same here, among recent Demcorat Presidents.

But here it makes one more of a Hero.

[The Worthless Miracle]

I hope he gets 27 years for that.

[Ax]

His whole bio can be summed up in one word: thug.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

The leadership of the ANC is made up of Communist, murderers, thugs, rapist and other low life scum. The United States supported them and ruined the only country in sub-Sahara Africa that stood a chance of supporting itself.

[6SJ7]

His critics say that he is his own worst enemy and that he failed to understand the ANC’s evolution from liberation movement to responsible government. Only this, they say, can explain him singing old battle songs such as Bring Me My Machine Gun at rallies.

They don't write songs like that anymore.

[Stoat]

His whole bio can be summed up in one word: thug.

If he's guilty I would agree....it's amazing how hard and fast 'the mighty' can fall. 

It's interesting to compare things, however.....if convicted, he may well be jailed for a significant term.  Ted Kennedy, on the other hand, who caused and facilitated the DEATH of a woman, is still free, quite fat and lecturing the rest of us about how evil we are for not adopting his policies.  Mr. Zuma is being tried in a country legendary for corruption and violent crime whereas here in the USA we like to feel that we hold the interests of Justice very high, and Ted Kennedy walks free......

[Krankor]

Sounds like you'd be safe as long as you didn't call him uncle.

[Cicero]

He needs to hire bill clinton to advise him on how to resolve this scandal.

[Stoat]

He needs to hire bill clinton to advise him on how to resolve this scandal.

I'm guessing that there have already been numerous late-night conference calls with BOTH of the Clintons, considering they worked so well together in the past, covering for each other's endless misdeeds. I'm sure that Clinton's slimy legal advisors have been tapped for help as well....surely they are the best in the world at manipulating laws and procedure to suit the whims of their clients.

[grounhog]

But, but, this cannot be. Apartheid is gone. South Africa is now a paradise.....

[Stoat]

But, but, this cannot be. Apartheid is gone. South Africa is now a paradise.....

<<<firing up Photoshop to produce a Bill of Sale for the Brooklyn Bridge....I think that I've found a mark!  :-)

 

hehehe!  Just kidding   :-)

[Stoat]

More on this story :

Zuma Accuser faces 'hell day'

 

Zuma: Accuser faces 'hell day'
06/03/2006 22:26  - (SA)  

Related Articles

• Attempts to 'bribe' Zuma accuser

• Accuser 'told to deny charge'

• Judge 'won't be judged on race'

• Zuma: Accuser 'told to deny charge'

• Accuser gives graphic details

• 'I liked being around him'

• Zuma accuser to testify in camera

• Zuma pleads not guilty

 

Liesl Pretorius and Lucia Swart , Beeld

 

Johannesburg - The greatest challenge facing the accuser in the rape case against axed former deputy-president Jacob Zuma is the cross-examination due to begin on Tuesday in Johannesburg High Court.

This is the view of Liza Vetten, head of the gender programme at Johannesburg's Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.

Vetten said the accuser in such a case often found it difficult to handle the way she was protrayed, often as a "malicious, lying slut".

"The accuser must stay calm while she is being torn to shreds."

Meanwhile, People Opposing Women Abuse (Powa) said the police must confiscate posters with the accuser's name on them, which were apparently seen outside the court on Monday.

It is against the law to name a rape victim, unless she gives consent.

Lucia Swart reported that chants of "Zuma! Zuma!" resounded early in Pritchard Street in front of Johannesburg High Court when hundreds of protesters gathered to show their support for the former deputy president.

"Move up a bit, make room," said Nandi Sathula of Springs as she squeezed on to one of the court benches.

"I attend all his court cases. I even go to Durban for the corruption trial. I stand by my JZ. He's my boyfriend, you know," joked Sathula.

When the court heard that Khwezi (star), as women's rights group One in Nine dubbed the accuser, would testify in camera, several supporters grumbled.

"Why? After all, we've come especially to hear what she says," whispered a spectator.

Zuma's supporters did not go home, but sat immobile outside the courtroom while Khwezi testified behind closed doors.

They were eventually thanked just after 15:30 with a confident wave when Zuma walked out of the court.

Khwezi's family and friends, who were allowed into the court while she testified, walked out with their purple T-shirts.

Powa spokesperson Carrie Shelverton said: "She was a wonderful witness. She was strong and brave. We're very proud of her for being able to testify so coherently."