Jacob Zuma castigated the media for having pre-judged him after he was acquitted on a charge of rape by the Johannesburg High Court on Monday.
Speaking in Zulu after the verdict, he told supporters at Beyers Naude Square: ”They insulted me and called me names.”
Without identifying anyone, he added: ”Others were not doing it on their own but were sent by some people somewhere.”
Zuma said that he had all along maintained his innocence, making it clear he would not discuss the matter in the media but in court.
”But since 9am this morning, the judge has been going into what was factual and what not — and has finally concluded that I am innocent.”
Zuma was speaking from the steps of the Johannesburg Public Library.
”The trial ended this morning. It is over. But there is something I wish to tell you. I want to express my gratitude for supporting me at a time when the ‘educated’ people of this country said a lot of stuff trying to confuse the people’s minds.
”Ever since I was born I have never been involved in corruption and I will never be corrupt.”
He thanked his supporters for respecting the Constitution.
”You have proven that you know it [the Constitution] better than the ‘educated’ people. The law of SA states that a person charged remains innocent until proven otherwise. That is the golden rule of our Constitution.”
He said the media and political analysts broke that law and undermined his human rights. ”They say they are here to enlighten us, the uneducated, but they switched the lights off and it turned dark.”
He said no-one needed to be treated unfairly because he was hated.
Zuma said his aim was to fight for the people of this country when he joined the liberation struggle.
”Even today, I would fight and die for you. I say that without any hesitation because that is what I stood for when I joined the struggle. I will stand for it until the end.”
He said his enemies’ dreams and bad wishes were over.
”The time will come when I’ll be able to thank you properly. Today [Monday] I was just thanking you in passing.”
He also thanked all the people and priests who prayed for him during the trial and those who had an input in Monday’s court outcome.
”Today [Monday], I am very happy,” Zuma said before leading the crowd in singing ”Mshini wami”.
Zuma (64) was accused of raping a 31-year-old HIV-positive woman in the guest bedroom of his Johannesburg home on November 2 last year.
Presiding Judge Willem van der Merwe agreed with Zuma’s version that the two had consensual sex in his bedroom. — Sapa