Jacob Zuma suspended his participation in leading structures of the African National Congress after being charged with rape on Tuesday. Zuma has denied the charges.
However, he will remain in the deputy president’s post.
”Given the nature and seriousness of these allegations, I have voluntarily decided to suspend my participation in the leading structures of my organisation for the duration of this trial,” he said in a written statement.
”These structures are the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee, the official meetings and the National Deployment Committee.
”I will however carry on with the general activities of the ANC as expected of all members of our organisation. This decision does not affect my position as ANC deputy president.”
”I wish to state clearly that I am innocent of these charges,” he said.
Zuma appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on the rape charge early on Tuesday morning, 702 Talk Radio reported. His brief appearance followed accusations by a 31-year-old Aids activist about three weeks ago.
”Yes, he was charged,” said state prosecutor Carina Coetzee.
”After due consideration of the facts in the relevant case docket the National Prosecuting Authority [NPA] has decided that Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma be arraigned in the Johannesburg High Court on a charge of rape,” an NPA statement said.
Mbeki to comment on Tuesday night
President Thabo Mbeki would comment on Tuesday night on the court appearance of Zuma.
Approached for comment in Pretoria on Tuesday morning Mbeki said he has agreed to an interview with radio station Metro FM at 7pm.
”I don’t know what questions he is going to ask, but I’m sure he will ask about that,” he said.
Zuma finds media judgement ‘truly offensive’
”I am deeply disturbed that what is purported to be evidence has been led in the media. This has severely influenced public opinion on this matter, causing great prejudice to me,” said Zuma in his statement.
”Yet again, as with the corruption case, the media has passed judgement and this I find truly offensive and regrettable. It has become a trend for the media to disregard our enshrined Constitutional rights of the presumption of innocence, dignity and human rights.”
”Nevertheless, it is my sincere hope that as a result of today’s [Tuesday] developments, I will be able to address this matter in the appropriate forum — a court of law. It is only there where I will have the constitutional right and opportunity to respond to these allegations.
”Now that the matter is before court, I hope that everyone will respect the judicial process and desist from trying this matter in the court of public opinion. I respect the court as the appropriate forum to determine this matter.
”I regard these allegations against me very seriously as I abhor any form of abuse against women. Throughout my life, in line with the policies of my organisation the ANC, I have fought against all forms of violence and abuse against women.
”When the NPA brought the charges of corruption against me, I took the decision to withdraw my participation from the leading structures of our organisation. This decision was reversed by the National General Council of our organisation in July.
”Now, confronted with this charge, and given its nature and seriousness, I have once again taken the decision to suspend my participation in the leading structures of the ANC. I trust that those who were concerned about my previous decision and raised their disapproval of it will, understand why I have had to come to this difficult decision.” said the statement.
The court case has been scheduled for February 13.
Consensual sex
The Mail & Guardian reported on Friday that Zuma had confessed to Cosatu and SA Communist Party bosses that he had had consensual sex with the woman.
Cosatu distanced itself from the report , saying: ”We condemn particularly the downright lie that the Cosatu president [Willie Madisha] and general secretary [Zwelinzima Vavi] had a meeting with the ANC [African National Congress] deputy president [Zuma], at which he said he had consensual sex, but [had] not committed rape,” Cosatu said.
”The journalist concerned was either creating a story in order to increase the sales of the Mail & Guardian, or was conniving with ‘faceless charlatans’ to damage the federation and Zuma,” Cosatu concluded.
M&G editor Ferial Haffajee responded on Friday afternoon: ”We’ve gone back to our sources, who confirmed the story. We believe that in these trying times a Cosatu statement is part of the damage-control exercise.
”We stand by our story. The M&G has no reason to fabricate or sensationalise.”
According to the M&G article, Zuma told the alliance leaders that the alleged rape victim was his girlfriend and that everyone in his family knew about the relationship.
He is understood to be pinning his legal hopes on family members to testify in court that he had an established relationship with the woman.
However, observers said that even if the sex was consensual, from a moral point of view Zuma would still be wrong to have slept with someone who regarded him as a father figure.
The M&G was unable to get a comment from the alleged victim, who has been in hiding since the rape allegations became public.
Opposition calls for speedy trial
United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said the fact that Zuma had now been officially charged with rape would hopefully bring an end to the unsavoury speculation which had characterised this very serious and sensitive matter.
”We call upon the police and prosecution authorities to ensure a speedy trial, so that this matter is not dragged out any longer than necessary,” he said.
”As with any case, especially where sexual abuse was alleged, justice delayed was justice denied. This was true for genuine rape survivors and the innocent accused alike.
”It is our sincere hope, now that the matter has entered the judicial realm, that it will be elevated above the despicable political machinations of the ANC’s succession battle,” Holomisa said.
Democratic Alliance MP and justice spokesperson Sheila Camerer said the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) decision to charge Zuma with rape ”must be an indication of the strength of the prima facie case” against him.
”It is surely not a step that the National Director of Public Prosecutions would take lightly.
”It is also a personal tragedy for both Mr Zuma and the complainant,” she said.
”Zuma’s supporters must allow the judicial process to run its course free from unnecessary pressure and interference of the kind we have witnessed in his past two appearances in connection with his corruption trial,” Camerer said.
African National Congress spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama said the ANC had noted ”this morning’s developments with respect to charges against ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma”.
Zuma enters court ‘through a side door’
The SA National Editors Forum (Sanef) condemned what it called the secrecy and exclusion of the media from the court appearance of Zuma.
”Zuma early this morning appeared in a Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court. He was brought into the court before opening hours, through a side door generally used by prisoners and after the area around the court was cleared by police and his bodyguards,” a Sanef statement said.
State prosecutor Carina Coetzee said that Zuma appeared early, by special arrangement.
Sanef continued that reporters were barred entry to the court and were not allowed access to the charge sheet and no reasons could be obtained early on Tuesday.
”Sanef believes that justice needs to be seen to be done in all cases of alleged criminal activity. The public will be convinced justice has been carried out only if they see it happening openly.”
It said that journalists covered court cases and were the eyes and ears of the public.
”Sanef is alarmed at this secrecy, which is contrary to the spirit of our Constitution and the openness and transparency of justice for which it stands. The forum also believes that all citizens should be equal before the law and special treatment should not be given to the rich or powerful in society.” – Sapa