Zuma takes the stand and denies rape claim

THE man once groomed to be South Africa’s next president, defended himself yesterday against charges that he raped an HIV-positive family friend, and argued, in graphic detail, that it was consensual sexual intercourse.

Jacob Zuma, who was sacked as deputy president under a cloud of corruption last June, told a packed courtroom that he had caressed, kissed, massaged and then had sex with the woman, who at no stage tried to resist him.

"If she had said no, I would have stopped there and gotten up and left," Zuma said, recalling the evening.