Publication: The Natal Witness Issued: Date: 2005-12-03 Reporter: Nivashni Nair Reporter:

Zuma: Cosatu says Paper Published Lies

 

Publication 

The Natal Witness
Date 2005-12-03

Reporter

Nivashni Nair

Web Link

www.witness.co.za

 

The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) has accused the Mail & Guardian of publishing lies with regard to the rape allegation against Zuma.

This week the Mail & Guardian reported that at a meeting with Cosatu president Willie Madisha and general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, Zuma confessed that he had consensual sex with the woman who has now laid a rape charge against him. It was also reported that Zuma told senior trade unionists and alliance leaders that the woman is known to his family as his girlfriend.

However Cosatu says that report is a “downright lie”.

“The journalist concerned was either creating a story in order to increase the sales of the Mail & Guardian or was conniving with faceless charlatans to damage the federation and Zuma,” Cosatu said in a statement.

Cosatu also denied that it prevented Zuma from resigning from his position as African National Congress deputy president ahead of its 20th anniversary celebrations in Durban tomorrow.

The Mail & Guardian reported that after a meeting with Madisha, Vavi and Blade Nzimande of the SA Communist Party, Zuma was convinced not to resign, because if he did it would cause the masses at celebrations to believe that the trade union prevented him from speaking at the event and was sidelining him.

There is speculation on whether Zuma will resign if rape charges are formally put to him.

Police are currently investigating an allegation that Zuma raped a 31-year-old HIV-positive Aids activist who is also the daughter of a well-known ANC activist who died in exile.

Sapa reports that the SA Communist Party (SACP) also joined the Congress of SA Trade Unions in blasting the Mail & Guardian.

“The SACP is disturbed and disgusted by the speculative and extremely sensational reporting.”

It accused the media of “playing cheap, factional and divisive politics”.

With acknowledgements to Nivashni Nair and The Natal Witness.