'I knew the risk was very minimal'

2006-04-04 11:57

Johannesburg - Former deputy president Jacob Zuma testified on Tuesday he had sex with an HIV-positive woman - who has since accused him of rape - because the risk was minimal.

"I knew the risk was very minimal," he told the Johannesburg High Court.

Zuma said he knew there was a risk but believed it was small, from knowledge he had gained while serving on the Aids Council.

He said he didn't tell the woman his HIV-status but he thought she knew he was HIV-negative.

"I don't see any reason why she would think I'm HIV-positive."

Prosecutor Charin de Beer asked Zuma why he'd had discussions with people about herbs that could help fight the virus.

She put it to him that these people had approached him about these herbs because he was HIV-positive.

"No, that is not true," he replied.

De Beer also put it to Zuma that his not using a condom was an indication of rape. The woman had earlier testified she'd never have had consensual sex without a condom.

Zuma denied this, saying the woman had taken the initiative for them to have sex and when he was hesitant to go ahead after they found neither of them had a condom, she encouraged him.

Zuma admitted that the rape allegation had caused his reputation considerable damage and that was the reason he took a decision to step down from certain African National Congress structures.

Before his cross examination started, he told the court he had sex with the woman for about 15 minutes.

When asked by his advocate, Kemp J Kemp what the intensity of the intercourse was, Zuma said: "it was normal sexual intercourse by two people who enjoy having sexual intercourse".

Zuma's HIV-status has been the subject of speculation since the trial began.

His most recent test was last month.

- SAPA