Minister of Intelligence Ronnie Kasrils has come out guns blazing against allegations that he and others are plotting against a Jacob Zuma presidency.
In a long and frank interview with the Mail & Guardian, Kasrils said the claim that the Zuma rape charge was a “honey trap” by his enemies was a “ludicrous figment of imagination”.
“Who would use a high-profile, HIV-positive woman as bait and hope to succeed? It is a desperate ploy that reveals the reckless bankruptcy of such allegations.”
Kasrils challenged the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) and the Young Communist League (YCL), which have made the claim. He also asked Zuma to explain why he (Kasrils) was portrayed as anti-Zuma.
While he was “relieved” Zuma was not jailed, he added: “He could easily have saved her, and all of us, from this nightmare by exercising a little self-control, as the judge pointed out.
“As his former Umkhonto weSizwe commander, who worked as his comrade in arms in Maputo in the 1980s, it is my view that he has let himself and all of us down, and only has himself to blame.”
Kasrils challenged Zuma to rebut the conspiracy claim.
“What Zuma owes me is an explanation on why he claimed in court that I am in the camp that works against him as part of a plot.
“He must furnish proof of this; for it is such unsubstantiated allegations that incite the simple-minded conspiracy theorists and generate a dangerous climate in our movement and country.”
Kasrils, who agreed to be interviewed “to clear up unanswered questions”, has been under fire since Zuma’s acquittal on rape charges. He was one of the first contacted by Zuma’s accuser after the alleged rape, and the ANCYL and YCL have cited this as evidence that the two collaborated to destroy Zuma’s political credibility.
Other than former National Prosecuting Authority boss Bulelani Ngcuka, accused of abusing state resources, Kasrils is the only senior ANC politician named as part of the anti-Zuma conspiracy.
The youth league has questioned why he was willing to testify for the prosecution in a false rape charge. It also asked why he had not informed Zuma, as an old comrade, after the woman spoke to him.
After its weekend meeting, the ANC national executive committee (NEC) cleared Kasrils of conspiring, while reinstating Zuma to his full responsibilities in the party.
This weekend, Kasrils will attend the South African Communist Party central committee meeting, where he said he hoped the SACP would act against the YCL for accusing him of conspiracy.
Kasrils said the only information he could give the prosecution was to confirm that “Khwezi” had phoned him two days after the alleged rape. He had told Khwezi he did not know what she expected of him, but it would be better not to involve him because this would create a political storm that would not serve her interests.
“The way the issue has since played itself out justifies what I anticipated.”
Kasrils said a few hours after Khwezi’s approach he became aware she was making similar calls to others. “I realised that the whole issue had taken off. Very soon many individuals were claiming to act on Zuma’s behalf, so clearly he was aware of the matter.
“When the prosecution ap-proached me 10 days later, they wanted me to confirm in a statement that she phoned me. There was no point in denying her call and what I’d told her. In no way could this be construed as damaging testimony against Zuma.”
Kasrils said he met Zuma a few days later at an ANC NEC meeting and informed him. To criticism that he should have informed him much earlier, Kasrils said: “It was not as if I was sitting on a bombshell that was going to go off without Zuma’s knowledge. Other people were quite aware.”
Although Kasrils was on the prose-cution witness list, he was not called to testify at the trial. “I was not called to testify because I could not add anything. I was not an eye-witness. If I had been called, I would have said I was not in the pro- or anti-Zuma camp. I am a government minister serving my president and the country and I do not see that as being in a camp.”
Kasrils said he believed he was being targeted because of his prominent and strategic position, and the fact that he had acted against elements in the National Intelligence Agency who had abused their positions by conducting unauthorised operations.
He was referring to the surveillance of businessman and ANC NEC member Saki Macozoma, the unauthorised interception of phone conversations and the circulation of e-mails purporting to indicate an anti-Zuma conspiracy. “I have acted to uphold the law without fear or favour. Clearly there are people who are not happy with what I uncovered. It would have been a dereliction of duty if I had not acted decisively.”
Kasrils said he felt pity for Khwezi. “She is the daughter of a fearless fighter and clearly suffers from traumatic childhood experiences. We can celebrate Msholozi’s acquittal, but her nightmare continues.”