Round one goes to Zuma as SA rape trial enters 2nd week

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s most sensational rape trial headed into a second week with ex-deputy president Jacob Zuma emerging in a stronger position than his HIV-positive accuser after her sex life was laid bare.

But experts watching the trial, which could seal the political career of the leader who was sacked by President Thabo Mbeki last year, said it was too early to say in which way the ruling would go. Zuma’s lawyer Kemp J.Kemp told AFP that the defence would try to prove that the victim had “alleged rape at least six or seven times” before the present case and that those allegations were unsubstantiated.The 31-year-old has denied that she has a history of making false rape claims but has stated she was raped at 13 and once again at a religious school that resulted in an unwanted pregnancy.The trial started with the woman testifying that she was violated by Zuma, a man she has known since the age of five and whom she considered to be her father when she went to him in distress after hearing of a family tragedy.Zuma’s lawyers on Friday said he would testify later that she had not been raped in the guest bedroom of his Johannesburg home on the night of November 2 but had come into his room and virtually seduced him.Zuma pleaded not guilty to the rape charge on Monday and maintains he had consensual sex with her.- Nampa-AFPZuma’s lawyer Kemp J.Kemp told AFP that the defence would try to prove that the victim had “alleged rape at least six or seven times” before the present case and that those allegations were unsubstantiated.The 31-year-old has denied that she has a history of making false rape claims but has stated she was raped at 13 and once again at a religious school that resulted in an unwanted pregnancy.The trial started with the woman testifying that she was violated by Zuma, a man she has known since the age of five and whom she considered to be her father when she went to him in distress after hearing of a family tragedy.Zuma’s lawyers on Friday said he would testify later that she had not been raped in the guest bedroom of his Johannesburg home on the night of November 2 but had come into his room and virtually seduced him.Zuma pleaded not guilty to the rape charge on Monday and maintains he had consensual sex with her.- Nampa-AFP