Publication	Sunday Times
Date	2005-11-27
Reporter	Dominic Mahlangu, Wisani wa ka Ngobeni, Dumisane Lubisi
Web Link	www.sundaytimes.co.za

The police have asked the National Prosecuting Authority to prosecute former Deputy President Jacob Zuma for rape.

The NPA is studying a docket submitted by the investigating officer in the case and will make a decision in the next few days on whether to prosecute the ANC deputy president.

The NPA has to decide whether there is enough evidence.

The Sunday Times has established that police, who have been investigating the case for two weeks, have recommended that Zuma be prosecuted because they believe they have collected "sufficient evidence" to make "a credible case" against him.

Zuma has repeatedly denied the rape claim "in the strongest possible terms".

Last week he confirmed to the ANC's leadership that he was aware of the investigation but again denied his alleged victim's claim.

His lawyer, Michael Hulley, yesterday said Zuma would make a formal statement about the matter on Tuesday.

He declined to comment on the police's handing over of the docket to the NPA, saying he would "rather not make any comment on the processes at this stage". Although Hulley would not elaborate on the statement, some ANC officials say it may be related to Zuma's political position.

Yesterday, national police spokesman Director Sally de Beer again refused to comment.

The docket submitted to the NPA by the police includes a statement from the alleged victim and from key witnesses in the case.

Witnesses include Zuma family members who were present in the Zuma house when the incident is alleged to have happened.

The police's evidence also includes the results of DNA tests done on the underwear of the complainant.

The tests were completed this week and the results, and other evidence, were handed over to a "docket-analysis team" in Pretoria.

The alleged victim, who is in her early 30s, claims the rape happened at Zuma's home in Forest Town, Johannesburg, on November 2. She went to the police on November 4.

NPA spokesman Makhosini Nkosi said in a statement on Thursday that the NPA intends "finalising the matter as soon as possible".

He said: "We do not want it to be drawn out unnecessarily."

Nkosi said that once a decision was taken, National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli or someone acting on his behalf would make a formal announcement.

The NPA has refused to make further statements about the case and is said to be approaching it with "extreme caution".

Prosecutors want to satisfy themselves that the case has been thoroughly investigated.

The final decision will be made by Pikoli in consultation with Charin de Beer, the Witwatersrand Director of Public Prosecutions.

Pikoli may also decide to ask the investigating officer to pursue the case further to fill in any potential gaps in the prosecution case.

This will be the second time this year that Pikoli has to decide Zuma's fate. In June, Pikoli charged Zuma with two counts of corruption related to his dealings with Durban businessman Schabir Shaik.

The rape allegation against Zuma has made waves in the ANC and its allies since it was published by the Sunday Times.

The ANC says it will keep a "close watch" on developments but says the matter will be left to the judicial process.

Zuma's supporters believe there is a conspiracy to prevent him from becoming president of the ANC.