Zuma: Accuser phoned Kasrils

2006-03-07 15:54

Johannesburg - Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils was phoned and asked for advice by the woman who has accused former deputy president Jacob Zuma of rape, Johannesburg High Court was told on Tuesday.

Zuma's lawyer, Kemp J Kemp, read from a statement made by Kasrils that the woman phoned him and told him she had been raped by Zuma and was going to lay a charge.

The woman told the court she had Kasrils' telephone number because he was one of the people who had been trying to secure funding for her overseas studies.

After talking to her sister, she had phoned "Uncle Ronnie" because she though there might be issues of safety on which he could advise her.

Her sister also worked in the intelligence department.

The woman had also wanted to know about the witness-protection programme.

"It was just advice about those issues that I wanted to get from him," she said.

Applied for three passports

Kasrils had sympathised with her, but was not able to help and advised her to do what she thought was right, she told the court.

In cross-examination, Kemp kept asking her why she was at Zuma's house on November 2.

She denied she had asked to spend the night there and that she had been offered a lift home by Zuma's daughter.

Asked why she had applied for three passports in 2002, the woman replied that she applied for a permanent passport and a temporary one to go overseas for a job interview.

Worried that she might not receive the passports in time, a colleague at the department of social development, where she worked, helped her get a third passport, "a government passport".

Was wearing a kanga that night

Questioned by Kemp whether, on the night of the alleged rape, she had remarked that she always carried a pair of panties and a toothbrush with her, the woman answered that she did not remember.

However, she indeed always had these items, a face cloth and a kanga (a fabric wrap) with her, she told the court.

The court was told that she had been wearing a kanga when she was allegedly raped.

The case continues.

- SAPA