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Zuma and the 'massage offer'
07/12/2005 00:02 - (SA)
Adriaan Basson, Beeld
Johannesburg - The woman who charged Jacob Zuma with rape is going to testify in court that Zuma committed the crime after she refused to let him massage her.
This allegation is part of the State's charge sheet which was formally handed to Zuma after he was charged in the Johannesburg magistrate's court with rape.
Tuesday was a day of massive set-backs for the fired South African deputy president.
First, he was formally charged and released on bail of R20 000.
Then, he withdrew from all of the African National Congress's main structures, but did not resign as the organisation's deputy president.
Later that afternoon, the ANC Women's League withdrew their support of Zuma and expressed their disappointment at the rape charge.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions also mentioned that it would demand an appropriate sentence if Zuma was convicted - the first time that this staunch supporter has mentioned the possibility of a conviction.
Strict bail conditions
And, early on Tuesday evening, it was revealed that one of his greatest confidants in the ANC and finance MEC for KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Zweli Mkhize, and former cabinet colleague Ronnie Kasrils would testify against him.
Katrien Smit reported that the charge sheet stated that Zuma was subject to extremely strict bail conditions.
Among these were that he had to keep investigating officer superintendent Peter Linda updated weekly about his whereabouts and that he could not leave South Africa without Linda's permission.
Zuma may not have any contact with any of the State witnesses, including the plaintiff, her mother, Kasrils and Mkhize.
Zuma was brought to the court before 08:00 on Tuesday under heavy police guard. Reporters who tried to gain access to the court were turned away by police and bodyguards.
Allowed to use side entrance
Court officials told Beeld that everyone in the court had been ordered to stand in the side passages and no one was allowed near court 9 where Zuma was being charged.
He also was given special permission to drive in with his legal team through the court's side entrance.
This is meant for vehicles transporting prisoners in custody to the court. Zuma's special treatment was widely criticised on Tuesday.
Magistrate M Budricks granted Zuma bail of R20 000 and postponed the case until February 13 when the trial will begin in Johannesburg High Court.
The charge sheet states that Zuma invited the woman to his house in Forest Town on November 2.
During the evening, he apparently said that she could spend the night there, and showed her in which room she could sleep.
Later that night, while she claimed she was asleep, Zuma came to her room "and offered to massage her".
It is claimed the woman refused, after which Zuma allegedly took the duvet off her and raped her.
The national prosecuting authority said: "After the facts of the docket were taken into account, the NPA decided to charge Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma in Johannesburg High Court with rape."
Despises abuse against women
In a statement Zuma issued after his court appearance, as well as in an affidavit forming part of the charge sheet, he denies vehemently that he raped the 31-year-old woman, an HIV-positive Aids activist and family friend who regarded him as a father figure.
"I take the allegations against me very seriously, since I despise any form of abuse against women.
"Throughout my life, in line with the policy of my organisation, the ANC, I have fought against all forms of violence and abuse against women," said Zuma.
This now means Zuma will be involved in two separate criminal cases in two high courts - the rape case in Johannesburg and a corruption case that will begin on July 31 in Durban, stemming from Schabir Shaik's trial.
- Beeld
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