The Zuma case: issues take front seat, but …

WOMEN’S groups said on Monday that the Jacob Zuma case has increased awareness of rape in South Africa, where reported rape is 114 cases per 100 000 people, compared to a rate of 32 per 100 000 in the United States.

But the woman who brought the charges was heckled as she arrived in court and the aggressive cross-examination about her sexual history has prompted concern the trial will deter other women from reporting rape. The woman has been in a witness protection programme since her allegations were made public.Her mother’s house has been ransacked twice and pro-Zuma demonstrators have burned her picture outside the courthouse.* The case fanned a fierce debate between anti-rape campaigners and Zuma supporters.Both camps turned out in force at the trial and there were clashes at hearings in the Johannesburg High Court.But the rape case created much bigger problems for Zuma and his support started to ebb away.* HIV-AIDS activists denounced Zuma for testifying that he did not use a condom when he had what he said was consensual sex with a woman he knew was HIV-positive.As a former head of the South African National AIDS Council, Zuma shocked many by arguing against scientific evidence that there was little danger of him contracting HIV from unprotected sex.In particular, Zuma’s testimony that he had a shower after sex to minimise his chances of infection caused outrage among campaigners in the country with the highest HIV-AIDS caseload in the world.Even some of his sympathisers began questioning his judgement and, by implication, fitness for leadership.* The ordeal of the accuser, who broke down on the witness stand as Zuma’s defence battered her with questions about her past sex life, prompted widespread calls for a review of rape laws.South Africa is grappling with one of the highest incidents of rape in the world, with statistics showing a conviction rate of only 1 in 9.Zuma conceded he had sex with the complainant but maintained it was consensual.But his argument that under Zulu culture a man could not walk away from a woman who was sexually aroused drew hackles even from some of his fellow Zulus.- Nampa-ReutersThe woman has been in a witness protection programme since her allegations were made public.Her mother’s house has been ransacked twice and pro-Zuma demonstrators have burned her picture outside the courthouse.* The case fanned a fierce debate between anti-rape campaigners and Zuma supporters.Both camps turned out in force at the trial and there were clashes at hearings in the Johannesburg High Court.But the rape case created much bigger problems for Zuma and his support started to ebb away.* HIV-AIDS activists denounced Zuma for testifying that he did not use a condom when he had what he said was consensual sex with a woman he knew was HIV-positive.As a former head of the South African National AIDS Council, Zuma shocked many by arguing against scientific evidence that there was little danger of him contracting HIV from unprotected sex.In particular, Zuma’s testimony that he had a shower after sex to minimise his chances of infection caused outrage among campaigners in the country with the highest HIV-AIDS caseload in the world.Even some of his sympathisers began questioning his judgement and, by implication, fitness for leadership.* The ordeal of the accuser, who broke down on the witness stand as Zuma’s defence battered her with questions about her past sex life, prompted widespread calls for a review of rape laws.South Africa is grappling with one of the highest incidents of rape in the world, with statistics showing a conviction rate of only 1 in 9.Zuma conceded he had sex with the complainant but maintained it was consensual.But his argument that under Zulu culture a man could not walk away from a woman who was sexually aroused drew hackles even from some of his fellow Zulus.- Nampa-Reuters