Zuma told to keep quiet about sex

2006-04-05 15:19

Johannesburg - Jacob Zuma on Wednesday denied that he did not say in a statement to police he had consensual sex with the woman accusing him of rape because he hoped to persuade her to withdraw the charge.

He told the Johannesburg High Court he did not use the words "consensual sex" on the advice of his attorney Michael Hulley.

Prosecutor Charin de Beer put it to him that he did not write those words because he did not want to reveal what his defence would be if the matter went to court.

"My Lord, that is not so," Zuma said.

In the statement Zuma denies that he raped the woman and said they "shared each other's company in private".

Zuma handed the written statement to police at his Nkandla home in KwaZulu-Natal on November 10.

De Beer asked Zuma why he had not told the media in his defence that the two had had consensual sex.

Zuma replied that he did not think it was necessary to discuss the issue with the media.

The trial continues.

- SAPA