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'Abusers must face the law'
08/12/2005 14:01 - (SA)
Pretoria - People who abuse women and children must be dealt with to the full extent of the law, the government reiterated on Thursday in response to former deputy president Jacob Zuma being charged with rape.
The issue wasn't on the agenda for Wednesday's cabinet meeting, government spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe said in Pretoria on Thursday.
This was because Zuma was a private citizen, he said in response to a question.
"It is a matter that is being dealt with at the level of the political party, the ANC.
"But in so far as government is concerned, the matter is being handled by state institutions - the police, the national directorate of public prosecutions as well as the courts."
'Very serious offences'
The broad policy position of government, Netshitenzhe added, was to view such crimes in a serious light.
"We have for instance this 16 days of activism (against women and child abuse) precisely because we take (these) as very serious offences.
"We would want to ensure that in our society, people who commit such offences are dealt with to the full extent of the law."
Regarding complaints of the media being barred from Zuma's court appearance on rape charges earlier this week, Netshitenzhe said the cabinet couldn't make any statement before receiving a full report.
"The solace we should have as society is that there are institutions to which we can appeal when such problems arise," he said.
Zuma was charged on Tuesday with raping a 31-year-old woman.
His trial is to start in Johannesburg High Court on February 13.
Zuma's corruption trial, stemming form charges related to a generally corrupt relationship with his financial adviser Schabir Shaik, starts in Durban High Court on July 31.
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