Publication: Sapa Issued: Johannesburg Date: 2005-11-21 Reporter: Jenni Evans Reporter: Yasheera Rampersadh

ANC to Keep a "Close Watch" on Zuma Rape Claims : Official (2)

 

Publication 

Sapa
BC-RPT-ANC-N/L-ZUMA

Date

2005-11-21

Issued

Johannesburg

Reporter

 Jenni Evans, Yasheera Rampersadh

 

If the rape claims against Jacob Zuma turned out to be "serious allegations" and went to court, the party would take action, ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe said on Monday.

"If the matter is confirmed as a serious allegation and the matter goes to court, the ANC will take action," *1 Motlanthe told the media after a three-day national executive committee meeting.

The party believed the judicial process was the "appropriate" mechanism to determine the matter but would also watch developments closely during the investigation, he said.

"We will keep a close watch on it."

He added, "The allegations against the deputy president are regarded very seriously by the ANC."

*2  In turn if they came to court, the party expected him to be guided by his political conscience.

He said it was important for the party's members to understand that "allegations remain allegations until it is proven".

The matter had not been on the agenda at the NEC meeting, held to thrash out perceived divisions within the party and between Zuma and its president Thabo Mbeki, but Zuma had asked if he may address the NEC on it.

He informed the NEC that allegations of rape had been made against him but he had issued a denial through his lawyer Michael Hulley.

Media reports on the same weekend that Zuma appeared in the Durban Magistrate's Court to receive his formal indictment on corruption charges, said that a family friend of Zuma's had laid a complaint of rape against him. Police will not comment on the matter. Beeld reported on Saturday the case number was 312/11/2005, lodged at the Hillbrow police station.

Reacting to further reports that the KwaZulu-Natal finance MEC Zweli Mkhize was brokering a settlement between Zuma and the complainant's mother, Motlanthe said that Mkhize was expected to issue a statement saying that he had only arranged her transport to Johannesburg. He had done this in the context of being a good friend of the family, whom he had known since his exile in Zimbabwe.

The NEC found there was no conspiracy within its own ranks against Zuma, and that there were no divisions in the party.

"We have accepted that sometimes there will be members aggrieved at how they were treated, but that does not mean that there was a conspiracy against them," Motlanthe said.

It understood how Zuma had reached the conclusion regarding what he thought was a political conspiracy and said that as a leader of the ANC he may have been subjected to "hostile forces opposed to the national democratic revolution" *3.

Zuma had used the "tools of his trade" as the party intelligence head during apartheid, to establish whether there was a conspiracy against him. He did not use state resources to do so and has not revealed the names of the people he thought were conspiring against him.

The NEC also said that none of its members was involved in sending hoax emails.

"The NEC is convinced that none of its members is involved in these smear campaigns."

The origins of these emails, reportedly about the presidential succession battle in the party, would be investigated by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

However, it felt that the NEC did not do enough to "pronounce themselves more firmly" on issues surrounding Zuma's successful complaint to the Public Protector that the national director of public prosecutions (NDPP) and the National Prosecuting Authority had violated his human rights.

"To the extent that failure to do so has inadvertently strengthened the perception of a 'political conspiracy, the NEC expresses its sincere regret."

During an investigation into the affairs of Zuma's financial adviser Schabir Shaik, a bidder in the controversial arms deal, previous NDPP boss Bulelani Ngcuka said there had been "prima facie" evidence against Zuma but he would not press charges.

Shaik is now appealing a corruption and fraud conviction. Zuma's corruption charges stem from Shaik's trial.

Zuma was "relieved" (sic) *4 of his job as Deputy President in June.

The overwhelming support for Zuma heightened when a T-shirt bearing the face of President Thabo Mbeki was burnt at one of Zuma's court appearances.

The party resolved to be more active in explaining its approach to the current situation to both the membership and society at large and would reassert discipline within its ranks to ensure compliance with its decisions.

With acknowledgements to Jenni Evans, Yasheera Rampersadh and Sapa.


*1  Well, now you know that the ANC does not consider two charges of corruption, each involving sums greater than the threshold triggering the minimum sentence regulations of the Criminal Procedure Act, not worthy of taking independent action.

*2  It's called double standards.

*3  Far more likely is that he may have been subjected to hostile forces opposed to the national moral degeneration.

*4  "released" (sick).