Zuma rape accuser gets asylum

THE HAGUE – A young HIV-positive AIDS activist who filed rape charges against former South African deputy president Jacob Zuma has been granted asylum in the Netherlands, a daily said on Tuesday.

Fezeka Kuzwayo, 32, who arrived here last year after losing a lawsuit against Zuma, has been granted a five-year residency permit, De Volkskrant said. It said former Dutch foreign minister Ben Bot, who knew Kuzwayo’s father, a former activist of South Africa’s now-ruling African National Congress (ANC), had directly intervened in the matter.The Dutch foreign ministry was not immediately available for comment.During the charged trial,Kuzwayo was threatened by thousands of Zuma’s supporters who gathered outside the court premises.Zuma, who was sacked as President Thabo Mbeki’s deputy following the rape accusations, has a huge grassroots following.His supporters claim the rape allegations were a conspiracy to put a spoke in his presidential aspirations.In May last year, Zuma was acquitted of the rape.Nampa-AFPIt said former Dutch foreign minister Ben Bot, who knew Kuzwayo’s father, a former activist of South Africa’s now-ruling African National Congress (ANC), had directly intervened in the matter.The Dutch foreign ministry was not immediately available for comment.During the charged trial,Kuzwayo was threatened by thousands of Zuma’s supporters who gathered outside the court premises.Zuma, who was sacked as President Thabo Mbeki’s deputy following the rape accusations, has a huge grassroots following.His supporters claim the rape allegations were a conspiracy to put a spoke in his presidential aspirations.In May last year, Zuma was acquitted of the rape.Nampa-AFP