Publication: Mail and Guardian Issued: Date: 2005-11-24 Reporter: Sapa

Police 'Testing Zuma's Blood'

 

Publication 

Mail and Guardian
Date

2005-11-24

Reporter

Sapa

Web Link

www.mg.co.za

 

Police are conducting tests on former deputy president Jacob Zuma's blood to compare it with the DNA of semen found on the underwear of his alleged rape victim, Beeld newspaper reported on Thursday.

It said the forensic test results will soon be handed to senior police officials.

National Directorate of Public Prosecutions advocate Charin de Beer will then decide whether or not to prosecute the African National Congress's deputy president, Beeld reported.

The Star newspaper said staff at the police's Pretoria forensic laboratory worked through the weekend to analyse the sample found on the 31-year-old complainant's underwear.

The results were "positive", meaning that the sample had proved to be semen.

The two samples will be compared and could prove to be crucial evidence.

The Star quoted De Beer as saying the decision on whether Zuma should be prosecuted falls within her jurisdiction.

"Eventually I have to make the decision," she told the paper.

Since the Sunday Times published the rape allegations on November 13 and Beeld published the case number, police have refused to confirm whether Zuma is facing a charge.

South African Broadcasting Corporation radio news quoted unnamed police sources on Thursday as saying they have to take their personal safety into account when speaking to the media on the rape claims against Zuma.

Sally de Beer, the spokesperson for the national police commissioner, told the Mail & Guardian Online on Thursday that she can neither confirm nor deny that police are conducting tests on Zuma's blood.

"We are not commenting on the matter," she said.

She pointed out that all the sources in the media are unnamed and said: "I have no idea who's giving this information to the media, but it's certainly not coming out of my office."

ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama said on Wednesday the party had not been able to confirm a charge against Zuma.

In a statement to "restate" the party's stance, the ANC said it viewed the matter in a serious light.

"These are serious allegations, that must be dealt with in terms of the law, by the appropriate institutions of the state."

Zuma has denied the rape allegations.

With acknowledgement to Sapa and Mail and Guardian.