Monday was J-day; Judgement-day, Jacob-day, D-Day for Zuma. Whatever, a big day for South Africa. The man who once seemed in line to be South Africa's next president, Jacob Zuma, was acquitted of rape Monday in SA's most politically charged trial since the end of apartheid.
Judge Willem van der Merwe found that Zuma and his accuser had consensual sex in Zuma's main bedroom, which meant he did not have to deal with the question of mens rea (intention). This former deputy president has been found NOT guilty of rape. Zuma, a former freedom fighter, denied raping this 31-year-old, HIV-positive familyfriend at his home in November. "We enjoyed each other's company privately", he said.
His testimony about having unprotected consensual sex with this HIV-positive AIDS activist demonstrated a shocking ignorance about HIV transmission by a man who once leaded South Africa's campaign against AIDS. It also heightened questions about HIV prevention in this country, with six million HIV-infected people. The world's highest number.
Zuma testified he did not use a condom though he knew the woman was carrying the AIDS virus, and that he took a shower after sex because he believed it reduced the risk of infection. With this crazy statement he made many people sad. Health activists fear Zuma's testimony could undermine years of prevention campaigns against AIDS, gender organisations fear women won't report rape anymore. Yesterday, there was an HIV information day for the Big Issue vendors. One woman came up with the question; "Does a hot shower after having unprotected sex really prevent you from AIDS?"
"I will fight for you and die for you. That is what I joined the struggle for and I will stand for it until I die!" That is how he satisfies his people. Why they love him. Why they believe him. Why they think he is not guilty. And now the rape accuser has to live her life in exile in another country, out of fear for her life in South Africa. And the little amount of women that report crime in this country (one out of nine) will think twice... Thank you Jacob. Hope you had a nice (J)-Day!
liefje! wist je dat veel mensen hier sceptisch zijn over de aanklacht (halen er verhalen bij van mediageile vrouwen die liegen en verhaal maken om geld...) vreemd hoe dat daar helemaal niet voelbaar is. ik geniet van je fototjes. mijn z-a fototjes (de jouwe dus en die van peer) staan op m'n hyves! hvj. denk aan je. x
Posted by: Anna | May 22, 2006 at 06:44 AM