Publication: The Star Issued: Date: 2005-12-13 Reporter: Angela Quintal Reporter: Reporter:

Zuma Denies Sex-Confession Claims

 

Publication 

The Star
Date 2005-12-13

Reporter

Angela Quintal

Web Link

www.thestar.co.za

 

ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma is considering a claim for damages or a complaint to the press ombudsman following a report that he confessed to unionists that he had consensual sex with the woman he is alleged to have raped.

His lawyer, Michael Hulley, issued a statement yesterday accusing the Mail & Guardian newspaper of "crossing the line" and of unethical conduct.

The statement comes two weeks after the newspaper report and a week after Zuma was charged with rape, and does not specifically deny that the ANC deputy president will claim consensual sex as a defence.

Mail & Guardian editor Ferial Haffajee said last night her newspaper stood by the accuracy of its report.

However, it was clear that, as journalists covered the ANC succession battle, there was a need for a higher level of ethical conduct and that all stories in her newspaper relating to the issue would be "triple-sourced" from now on.

Zuma denied in his statement that he had met top alliance leaders at his rural home last month.

"Alliance leaders Zwelinzima Vavi, Willie Madisha and Blade Nzimande did not visit me at Nkandla (in KwaZulu Natal) on the previous Sunday," as the Mail & Guardian had implied.

With acknowledgements to Angela Quintal and The Star.


Like Desai of Mumbai, denaai.