South Africa's axed deputy president on rape charges

Police escorted the woman who accuses South Africa’s former deputy president of rape past a crowd of his supporters and of women’s rights activists today for his second appearance on rape charges.

The Johannesburg case could destroy the political career of Jacob Zuma, who once seemed certain to succeed President Thabo Mbeki at the head of Africa’s economic and diplomatic powerhouse.

Zuma, dressed in a dark, pinstriped suit, arrived shortly before the scheduled start of the 10am (8am Irish time) hearing. His accuser had arrived hours before and was taken in by a side entrance under heavy police escort. As the hearing began, Zuma sat with his lawyers, not in the dock for the accused.

Zuma’s lawyers asked the judge, Bernard Ngoepe, to withdraw, saying he had issued a search warrant in an unrelated corruption case against Zuma and that that could “create the perception” of bias. Ngoepe adjourned proceedings to consider and was expected to rule on the request later today.

Mbeki fired Zuma in June after he was implicated in the bribery scandal. The dismissal opened a rift within the governing African National Congress, where Zuma retains support.

Although Zuma retains the title of ANC deputy president, he withdrew from leadership duties in December when he was charged with raping a 31-year-old family friend at his Johannesburg home. He denies both charges.

The accuser has not been publicly identified. As she arrived today, a length of cloth was held up to shield her face from the crowd of several hundred Zuma supporters and about a dozen members of People Opposing Woman Abuse. The crowd of supporters later grew to close to 1,000.

“We are sending out a strong message of support and solidarity to survivors of rape and violence,” said POWA spokeswoman Carrie Chelver.

“This sounds like a party,” Chelver said, referring to the Zuma supporters dancing to a pop song written for him. “Rape is not a party.”

Zuma has found support among left-leaning ANC members as well as in the party’s trade union and South African Communist Party allies.

“Jacob Zuma didn’t rape that woman,” one of those rallying in his support, 39-year-old Lucy Hanwani, said outside court today. “He was framed because they don’t want him to be president. He fought for us long ago. He will deliver what we want – houses, education.”

Security was tight for today’s hearing. Streets around the court building were closed.

Appearances in the corruption case had drawn large, sometimes unruly crowds supporting Zuma, a veteran trade activist who was prominent in the anti-apartheid movement.

The Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust Fund had promised a strong showing today. However, a growing number appear to have reserved judgment on the rape allegation, a more damaging charge politically in a country facing high levels of violence against women.

According to the charge sheet, the complainant visited Zuma’s home on November 2 and was invited to spend the night. After the woman went to bed, Zuma allegedly entered the room, woke her up and offered her a massage. When she declined, he is accused of raping her.

In the corruption case, Zuma was implicated in the conviction of his friend and financial adviser, Schabir Shaik.

The judge in that case said Shaik made payments to Zuma to fund a lavish lifestyle. He also said Zuma was aware of Shaik’s efforts to facilitate a yearly payment to the ex-deputy president from French arms firm Thint Holdings - formerly Thomson CSF – to deflect investigations into a 1999 weapons deal with the South African government.

Shaik is appealing against his conviction.