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Jacob Zuma, South Africa, the ANC, Rape and AIDS

EnMasse Forum Index -> The Rest of the World

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shaolin
Fulltime enMasse Member

Joined: 12 Apr 2006
Posts: 161
Location: Edinburgh

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 10:51 am Post subject: Jacob Zuma, South Africa, the ANC, Rape and AIDS

Quote:

The judge found that Zuma had taken part in consensual sex. The merits of that finding will long be argued over. His accuser is clearly a traumatized woman, the victim of sexual abuse since the age of five. Zuma's defence lawyers had to attack and undermine her to prove his innocence; but in the process they have ensured that rape victims will have greater reason to shrink from lodging criminal complaints - to avoid harrowing public cross-examination, and even more so because of the mob screams of "Burn bitch" when the accuser came to court and two attacks on her family's home. South Africa already has the world's worst rate of rape, with 50,000 complaints to the police each year, and unknown numbers unreported.

Not only rape, but HIV/Aids, with nearly 6 million infected in a population of 45 million. Zuma was previously the head of the National Aids Council and the moral regeneration movement, which propagandized single-partner sex. It goes beyond humbug that he had unprotected sex with a woman whom he knew was HIV-positive and that he said he had a shower afterwards in the belief it would reduce his chance of infection.

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PuebloUnido
*BANNED*

Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 201

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 1:47 pm Post subject:

Time for the Communist Party to abandon ship and form a progressive alternative to these pro-privatisations, AIDS-denying buffoons.

beibhnn
Member

Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 92
Location: in exile

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 2:03 pm Post subject:

PuebloUnido wrote:

Time for the Communist Party to abandon ship and form a progressive alternative to these pro-privatisations, AIDS-denying buffoons.

Not that I entirely disagree, but the SACP would go where? Or COSATU for that matter? My experience in SA was that both were enjoying having a voice in government, no matter how small. (And the SACP in SA is not always a "progressive alternative" and often reads of the same page as prominent ANC members re AIDS. The buffoons abound everywhere, even in the relative left.)

I have been following Zuma's trial, mostly through the Mail and Guardian. A friend and I who worked on submissions to parliament to amend the Sexual Offences Act were talking about the trial last weekend. The piece of legislation under which Zuma was prosecuted is antiquated law that would make it difficult to obtain a conviction, even without the three ring circus that has been around this trial. Both of us thought that one of the few good things that might come out of this trial (other than Zuma not becoming the next President and the public education message that having a shower is not necessarily an effective method to prevent AIDS) is that this might lead to further steps taken to amend the Sexual Offences Act to be effective legislation. And hey - a few rape shield provisions to defend complainants wouldn't be amiss either.

Tehanu
More or less, more or less

Joined: 12 Apr 2006
Posts: 17673
Location: Seceded from the Ford Nation

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:33 am Post subject:

Well, Jacob Zuma has just been elected leader of the ANC, beating out Thabo Mbeki. Now, he's faced corruption charges (and may again) and has been accused of rape. Supporters say this is smear, and he's a leftwing populist. Hard to tell. Mbeki has been unimpressive on social justice, poverty and AIDS, so it'll be interesting to see what changes may be afoot.

Quote:

... Mr. Zuma still risks being charged by prosecutors for corruption in a multimillion-dollar arms deal. His supporters said the corruption cloud was part of a political smear campaign and should not prevent him from becoming ANC president.

... The bitter contest for party president strained the organization's fabled discipline and unity. But the margin of Mr. Zuma's victory raised questions whether Mr. Mbeki would continue as national president until scheduled elections in 2009 or whether he would step down early. The ANC candidate would likely win, given the party's wide support.

In the closing days of the campaign, Mr. Zuma's supporters were at pains to try to calm jitters that South Africa's economic policies would lurch to the left, given the huge support he enjoys among the trade union movement and Communist Party.

... He has insisted that he will not radically change the economic agenda for fear of scaring off foreign as well as domestic investors. He has called for AIDS and crime to be “treated as national emergencies,” something many South Africans have criticized Mbeki for not doing.

On foreign policy, Mr. Zuma has challenged Mr. Mbeki for insisting on quiet diplomacy over confrontation with neighbouring Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe is accused of ruining the economy, undermining democracy, and thereby threatening the region's stability.

... Last year, Mr. Zuma was acquitted of raping a family friend. During the trial, he testified that he had unprotected, consensual sex with the HIV-positive woman and then took a shower in the belief that it would protect him from the AIDS virus.

Globe and Mail.

Hephaestion
Deeply Shallow

Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 24243
Location: Where the Wild Things Are...

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:45 am Post subject:

Quote:

He has called for AIDS and crime to be "treated as national emergencies," something many South Africans have criticized Mbeki for not doing.

[...]

Last year, Mr. Zuma was acquitted of raping a family friend. During the trial, he testified that he had unprotected, consensual sex with the HIV-positive woman and then took a shower in the belief that it would protect him from the AIDS virus.

So how would he address the national emergency of AIDS? Showers for everyone? Rolling Eyes

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"The dignity of an animal is measured by his capacity to revolt in the face of oppression." -- Mikhail Bakunin

Hephaestion
Deeply Shallow

Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 24243
Location: Where the Wild Things Are...

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:01 am Post subject:

SA queers remain wary of Zuma

Quote:

Last year in a speech Zuma said that when he was young he would have beaten anyone who was gay. He went on to say that gay marriage is "a disgrace to the nation and to God".

His remarks came as public hearings were being held on legislation to legalize same-sex civil marriage and grant rights to non-married gay and opposite-sex couples. Despite his opposition the bill passed.

Demands for an apology went unanswered for two weeks, but as condemnation mounted in the mainstream press, Zuma issued a statement saying he was sorry.

"I apologize unreservedly for the pain and anger that my remarks may have caused," Zuma said at the time.

He also said that his words had been taken out of context. Zuma claimed that he had been speaking about the traditional communal way of raising children.

"I said the communal upbringing of children in the past was able to assist parents to notice children with a different social orientation. I, however, did not intend to have this interpreted as a condemnation of gays and lesbians."

His statement went on, in what was regarded as an attempt to shore up support within the ANC, to pledge his support for the Constitution which guarantees the rights of gays and lesbians.

"Our lesbian and gay compatriots are protected by the Constitution and I respect their rights, in my capacity as an individual citizen and as a member and one of the leaders of the ANC," Zuma said. "I also respect, acknowledge and applaud the sterling contribution of many gay and lesbian compatriots in the struggle that brought about our freedom, and the role they continue to play in the building of a successful non-racial, non-discriminatory South Africa."

LGBT rights groups at the time dismissed the statement as being more political [than] heartfelt. They remain concerned about what a Zuma presidency would bring.

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Tehanu
More or less, more or less

Joined: 12 Apr 2006
Posts: 17673
Location: Seceded from the Ford Nation

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:22 am Post subject:

And hard on the heels of winning the leadership of the ANC, Zuma has been indicted for corruption. Doesn't look good, doesn't inspire confidence.

Quote:

... Zuma, the recently elected leader of the African National Congress and in line to be the country's next president, will face various counts of racketeering, money laundering, corruption and fraud in August, defence lawyer Michael Hulley said.

A spokesman for South Africa's prosecuting authority would not comment.

Zuma allegedly accepted bribes of nearly $600,000 US from the French arms company Thint to deflect investigation into a multibillion-dollar arms deal. The payments were allegedly arranged by Zuma's financial adviser, who was later convicted of trying to elicit a $70,000 bribe for Zuma.

CBC.

voice of the damned
Fulltime enMasse Member

Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 6195
Location: slandered, libeled

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:57 pm Post subject:

Quote:

In a ground-breaking move, South African prosecutors will investigate President Robert Mugabe’s political party for crimes against humanity for an alleged campaign of mass rapes in Zimbabwe’s last election.

The decision, following a request by Canadian activist Stephen Lewis and others, marks the first time an African government has used domestic laws to investigate another African country under the emerging doctrine of “universal jurisdiction.”

Quote:

In an earlier report, AIDS-Free World concluded that thousands of opposition supporters were raped by members of the ruling ZANU-PF party “as a tool of terror and intimidation” during the 2008 election campaign.

This is an about-face for the SA government, which had previously appealed an order by the courts to prosecute. Short of invading Zimbabwe, though, it seems that all South Africa would be able to do to the alleged perpetrators is arrest them should they cross the border.

And while I sincerely suspect the timing is coincidental, South African prosecutors are probably happy to be mentioned in the global-media for something other than inept bumbling.

link
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The Evil Twin
Stoned Immaculate

Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 3748
Location: Toronto

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 7:49 am Post subject:

Quote:

Normally I'd say this is a good development except of course for this:

From the OP's (Shaolin) post:

Quote:

Has anyone been following the trial of Jacob Zuma, former deputy President of South Africa, and his trial on charges of raping an HIV-positive woman? He's been found not-guilty, but this is still a big ole can of worms. The AIDS epidemic, the ongoing sexual violence crisis, ethnic identity in South African politics and perhaps changing fortunes for the ANC?

The basics:
Zuma sorry for not using condom

And a very interesting comment piece on the Guardian website about the overall implications: South Africa's One Man Wrecking Crew

Quote:
The judge found that Zuma had taken part in consensual sex. The merits of that finding will long be argued over. His accuser is clearly a traumatized woman, the victim of sexual abuse since the age of five. Zuma's defence lawyers had to attack and undermine her to prove his innocence; but in the process they have ensured that rape victims will have greater reason to shrink from lodging criminal complaints - to avoid harrowing public cross-examination, and even more so because of the mob screams of "Burn bitch" when the accuser came to court and two attacks on her family's home. South Africa already has the world's worst rate of rape, with 50,000 complaints to the police each year, and unknown numbers unreported.

Not only rape, but HIV/Aids, with nearly 6 million infected in a population of 45 million. Zuma was previously the head of the National Aids Council and the moral regeneration movement, which propagandized single-partner sex. It goes beyond humbug that he had unprotected sex with a woman whom he knew was HIV-positive and that he said he had a shower afterwards in the belief it would reduce his chance of infection.

Gawd, that Zuma is a real piece of work. Personally I think South Africa, Zuma or the SA Justice system's prosecutors pointing the fingers at other countries for condoning rape is as hypocritical as George W. and Condi Rice denouncing Russia for invading and partitioning Georgia in 2008 (after their actions in Iraq and recognizing Kosovo's independence).

ETA: Even after all these years I still find it unbelievable that a major world leader thought that a "shower" after unprotected sex would protect him from infection. Wow.
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voice of the damned
Fulltime enMasse Member

Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 6195
Location: slandered, libeled

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 2:35 pm Post subject:

Quote:

Personally I think South Africa, Zuma or the SA Justice system's prosecutors pointing the fingers at other countries for condoning rape is as hypocritical as George W. and Condi Rice denouncing Russia for invading and partitioning Georgia in 2008 (after their actions in Iraq and recognizing Kosovo's independence).

I could almost agree with this, and I do find it somewhat distasteful to make distinctions between the awful and the horrible. But I still have to draw a distinction between incompetence and stupidity(ie. what we get from Zuma), and outright, state-directed criminality(ie. what Mugabe was doing with his mass rape campaigns). In the case of the USA criticizing Russia, the hypocrisy was more clear-cut, because the US had done the exact same thing they were accusing the Russians of doing(and actually worse, since Russia could at least make a case that they were protecting their own territorial integrity by sending troops in to Georgia).

But yeah, Zuma's a clown. I'd hate it if this campaign against Zimbabwe ends up giving him a halo he doesn't deserve. It's an interesting development, though, and I can't help but wondering if the issue is inficative of increasing cleavage between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
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