The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has welcomed Jacob Zuma’s apology for having unprotected sex with an HIV-positive woman.
The trade-union federation said it agreed with Judge Willem van der Merwe that ”it is totally unacceptable that a man should have unprotected sex with a person other than his regular partner and definitely not with a person who, to his knowledge, is HIV-positive”.
The union regretted that the African National Congress deputy president broke the ABC rules — abstain, be faithful, and condomise — which help prevent HIV infection.
”Cosatu, however, fully accepts Jacob Zuma’s apology and his admission that he ‘should have been more cautious and more responsible’,” the statement read.
On Monday, Zuma was acquitted of a rape charge brought against him by a 31-year-old HIV-positive woman. Judge van der Merwe agreed with Zuma that they had consensual sex.
The South African Communist Party also welcomed and accepted Zuma’s apology.
”The apology by Comrade Zuma, his reiteration of his commitment to the fight against the HIV/Aids pandemic and the struggle against gender-based violence should be taken as yet another clarion call to redouble our efforts against these scourges,” general secretary Blade Nzimande said in a statement.
He urged all South Africans to accept the apology.
”Very few leaders have had the courage to accept their, sometimes, very glaring errors and serious mistakes on matters of this nature.”
Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon said Zuma was ”much enhanced” politically after his trial and acquittal. He said the acquittal had thrown open the race for the ANC presidency.
”Nobody could say after yesterday [Monday] who is going to be the next president of the ANC and I think that is a good thing.”
He said the fact that the race was now not pre-arranged was good for democracy in South Africa.
Leon said while Zuma scored political points, he was personally diminished by the trial.
The Young Communist League (YCL) on Tuesday added its voice to those welcoming Zuma’s acquittal, urging South Africans to pledge their support during his upcoming corruption trial.
YCL national secretary Buti Manamela said the verdict confirmed the view that the truth had to be established through a fair process and be proven beyond reasonable doubt.
”We also call all justice-seeking South Africans to pledge their support during the corruption trial against the ANC deputy president.”
He said the verdict had put to an end the ”malicious innuendo” against Zuma around the rape allegation.
”We are also aware that what has transpired during the court proceedings is going to be used by those who held a longstanding view that he should not be the president.
”The fact that he is not guilty means he is entitled to any position in society,” said Manamela in a statement.
”We would like to re-iterate our position against all forms of women and child abuse, as well as our position on the HIV/Aids prevention strategy. We call on all women who are abused on daily basis to speak out.”
Meanwhile, the South African National Civic Organisation was ”proud” of the outcome of the trial, and said in a statement they would support Zuma should he pursue the candidacy for the presidency.
ANC to hold special meeting to discuss Zuma
Meanwhile, the national executive committee (NEC) of the ANC will hold a special meeting on Sunday to discuss Zuma’s (ANC deputy president) future, following his acquittal.
”The secretary general is convening a meeting with the NEC this Sunday,” spokesperson Steyn Speed told the South African Press association on Tuesday.
When Zuma was charged in December with raping a 31-year-old HIV-positive woman at his Johannesburg home, he withdrew from the official duties carried by his post, working only as an ”ordinary member”. He had also been ”released” as the country’s deputy president ahead of his corruption trial in July by President Thabo Mbeki.
Both moves caused outrage among Zuma’s supporters and set off a wave of anti-Mbeki messages and insults among the Zuma supporters outside the Johannesburg High Court.
Speed said the meeting would be held in Johannesburg and would be closed.
Zuma told a press conference held at Talk Radio 702 on Tuesday it was up to the party to decide his future, and he would accept what they said.
He had already communicated with secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe about his participation in the party. ”The point is, I have never wanted to be a leader — the ANC decides.”
He continued: ”I have never refused a task given by the ANC and I am not about to do so now.”
He denied the presence of a ”succession battle” or a ”split” within the ANC, saying he had only read about that in the media.
”I don’t know that there is any split in the ANC.”
He said he and Mbeki, who is also the party’s president, had ”historically” been good comrades.
”We have always been together.”
But since he withdrew from deputy presidency duties, they had only spoken ”once or twice” because he had not been attending the regular meetings associated with the post.
He had not heard from Mbeki since the rape judgment.
”No, there has been no conversation.”
Mbeki’s office issued a short statement on Monday, saying: ”The Presidency respects the independence of the judiciary and accepts the verdict.”
He did not want to discuss his views on a possible third term for Mbeki, nor Mbeki’s statement last week advocating a female president.
”I wouldn’t want to discuss it in the media … That matter is a matter that I would love to discuss within the ANC.”
He corrected reports that he had not been active within the ANC, saying he had been working as an ordinary member.
He was willing to take any position the ANC called him to. — Sapa