The Johannesburg High Court has turned down an application by three non-governmental organisations to appear as amici curiae (friends of the court) in the rape trial of former deputy president Jacob Zuma. The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies and the Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre had wanted to present evidence.

Three non-governmental organisations have applied to give expert evidence in the Jacob Zuma rape trial in the Johannesburg High Court. This would include the reasons, known by people working with rape survivors, why they often did not take the first opportunity to make known the assault and to seek help, Peter Hodes SC told the court on Monday.

The country’s persistent power blackouts have produced an unexpected boom in sales of power generators and candles. ”There has been a massive increase,” says Leon Maas, sales manager for Johannesburg-based company Generator Logic. ”We used to quote a four-week delivery period, but now we’re saying eight to 12 weeks because of the demand.”

Former deputy president Jacob Zuma’s rape trial will resume in the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday after a one-week adjournment. Reports suggest he may apply for the case to be dismissed for lack of evidence, but his attorney Michael Hulley was not immediately available to confirm this.

Jacob Zuma’s rape accuser was treated at a mental institution in Zimbabwe after her father died, the Johannesburg High Court heard on Friday. The woman’s mother testified that her daughter ”had experienced many difficulties”.