G-strings burnt at Zuma trial
2006-04-04 08:23
Johannesburg - "This destroys our men! Zuma would never rape," said Euginia Yantcho of Bellevue East on Monday at Johannesburg High Court, waving a burning red G-string in her hand.
She was one of the supporters of axed former president Jacob Zuma who is standing trial on a rape charge.
"A G-string takes away a woman's dignity. If a man sees a woman in a G-string, he deserves to rape her," she said on Monday.
Yantcho knew that Zuma's accuser was not wearing a G-string during the alleged rape.
She said the purpose of her demonstration was to take a moral stance against women who laid a charge of rape "too easily".
"Women report rape too easily after they've enticed men with their bodies. Your body is a temple of God," she said.
Sang 'Burn the bitch'
She added that "our daughters are asking to be raped" when they wear G-strings.
Yantcho was also one of the protestors who waved posters on March 7 with the woman's name and picture on them, and later burned them while she sang "Burn the bitch".
Carrie Shelver, a spokesperson for People Opposing Women Abuse (Powa) said on Monday that people did not always understand sexual offences.
"One can't hold a piece of clothing responsible for sexual crime or moral degeneration."
Several younger protestors turned up outside court, because of the school holidays.
Two young boys dressed in traditional Zulu garb were among the Zuma protestors.
About 10 young girls who sang with the women's-rights group, were also among the accuser's supporters.