To freeze during a rape and then take a long time to report it is consistent with the behaviour of a rape survivor, Jacob Zuma’s rape trial heard on Monday.
Clinical psychologist and trauma specialist Merle Friedman was testifying on the responses to rape by survivors and in particular with regard to the woman who laid charges against the former deputy president.
Friedman testified in the Johannesburg High Court that she interviewed the woman twice, studied her statements, was briefed by the police and found that the woman was completely overwhelmed and shocked by the alleged rape.
”She froze because she was not able to believe what happened,” Friedman said, confirming the alleged victim’s testimony last week.
Studies show that responses to trauma go beyond ”fight or flight” and include a postural response such as freezing.
Friedman said that even soldiers are known to freeze in battle. ”It is part of the response.”
The father-daughter relationship between Zuma and the woman made it ”probable” that she would rather freeze. ”Trapped, terrified and helpless and unable to respond in any way other than to freeze — this is consistent with a response to rape.”
She said it is normal for rape victims to take a long time to report rapes and even link the word ”rape” with what had happened to them.
”The time it took her to be able to use the word was very consistent with rape survivors.”
She said crisis theory shows disruptions in decision-making and dissociation. ”Dissociation is usually indicative of early childhood sexual abuse,” she said.
Last week, the woman told of three rapes while she was a child and a suspected rape that saw her fall pregnant. This dissociation was further closely associated with multiple trauma and, in her case, her previous rapes.
Friedman said using an example of bank workers who experienced a robbery and were then transferred to another bank, only to experience another, it would be normal for them to start blaming themselves.
This would explain the woman’s SMS saying: ”There must be something in my drawers”, which she sent after the alleged rape.
Friedman said the woman showed all the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and was shocked when she saw a newspaper report saying that she had sex with consent and that it was not rape.
Meanwhile, Zuma says he will emerge from his trial on rape charges with his popularity intact, Reuters reported on Friday.
Its website said he hinted that he still regarded himself as a candidate for the country’s top job.
Zuma, speaking in an interview with Reuters, said his widespread support in the ruling African National Congress (ANC) represents a backlash against the ”abuse of authority” by some parts of the government now led by President Thabo Mbeki.
”I’m not worried first what happens to me. I am worried what happens to the country, what happens to the system,” Zuma said at his Johannesburg home.
”I think I have a duty to ensure that this country works properly, the laws are properly done and there is no abuse of authority or power.”
The rape case followed corruption charges that were laid against Zuma last year after a scandal that saw Mbeki fire him as deputy president, a move which many analysts said had all but ended his hopes of succeeding Mbeki as the ANC’s presidential choice in 2009.
While declining to say on record whether he still sees himself as a candidate for president, Zuma told Reuters that he believes both cases against him are politically motivated and that he will survive with his popularity — and his leadership role — intact.
”I see myself as part of the ANC leadership,” he said, adding that he is not worried that his widespread support among the ANC rank and file has been damaged.
”Not at all. I think it is almost five years now [that] attempts have been made to do so. It has been a long time. Down throughout the state organs by investigating me. Down throughout the media — a very hostile media. And by some politicians. I don’t think it has worked,” Zuma said.
”Fortunately the South African public is very advanced and they are able to see through [this].” – Sapa