Zuma seeks to probe rape accuser’s past

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s powder-keg rape trial which could end former deputy president Jacob Zuma’s political career continued yesterday with the embattled leader’s lawyers seeking leave to probe the sexual past of the alleged victim.

Zuma’s lawyers asked Judge Willem van der Merwe for permission to grill his accuser – a 31-year-old HIV-positive AIDS activist who has known the defendant from the age of five – on her sexual history. “We are dealing with an application…of the criminal procedure act made by the defence team …concerning the complainant’s sexual history,” the judge said, adjourning the court briefly.Under South African law, rape victims are protected from questions about their sexual past and legal permission is necessary to do so.Both Zuma and the alleged victim appeared calm as they entered the court as delayed hearings into the explosive case entered a second day.About 300 people – including protesters and the curious – milled outside the tightly guarded area doing a liberation-era shuffle, singing songs and holding up placards in Zuma’s defence such as “Innocent Until Proven Guilty.”Zuma told the court on Monday that he had consensual sex with the woman and added that she had raised rape charges before, but did not elaborate.The alleged victim however said she had been violated in Zuma’s house on the night of November 2, by a man who was a close friend of her father and his comrade in prison during South Africa’s liberation struggle.She said that after having unprotected sex with her he told her: “‘I told you I’ll take care of you.’ He said …’You are a real girl,’ and at some point he gave me a peck on my lips and another on my cheek.”Zuma has denied guilt in the case that could seal the veteran’s leader’s political demise after graft allegations that cost him his job as South Africa’s number two and being a frontrunner in the race to succeed President Thabo Mbeki.- Nampa-AFP”We are dealing with an application…of the criminal procedure act made by the defence team …concerning the complainant’s sexual history,” the judge said, adjourning the court briefly.Under South African law, rape victims are protected from questions about their sexual past and legal permission is necessary to do so.Both Zuma and the alleged victim appeared calm as they entered the court as delayed hearings into the explosive case entered a second day.About 300 people – including protesters and the curious – milled outside the tightly guarded area doing a liberation-era shuffle, singing songs and holding up placards in Zuma’s defence such as “Innocent Until Proven Guilty.”Zuma told the court on Monday that he had consensual sex with the woman and added that she had raised rape charges before, but did not elaborate.The alleged victim however said she had been violated in Zuma’s house on the night of November 2, by a man who was a close friend of her father and his comrade in prison during South Africa’s liberation struggle.She said that after having unprotected sex with her he told her: “‘I told you I’ll take care of you.’ He said …’You are a real girl,’ and at some point he gave me a peck on my lips and another on my cheek.”Zuma has denied guilt in the case that could seal the veteran’s leader’s political demise after graft allegations that cost him his job as South Africa’s number two and being a frontrunner in the race to succeed President Thabo Mbeki.- Nampa-AFP