Johannesburg: She slept under the duvet in one of the bedrooms of Jacob Zuma's luxury Forest Town mansion, Idle Winds. She felt safe.

This was at the home of a trusted family friend. A man she described as "a father".

Then, sometime during the night, Zuma crept into her room - and her life changed for ever.

This was the story of a 31-year-old woman, detailed in an indictment before the Johannesburg Regional Court, who is claiming the country's axed deputy president raped her.

Zuma made a top secret appearance in the court yesterday and was officially charged with rape by the National Prosecuting Authority.

After a brief appearance he was granted bail of R20 000, which had been pre-arranged, and ordered to stand trial in the Johannesburg High Court on February 13.

In the two-page indictment served on Zuma, 63, his alleged victim describes how she had gone to the ANC No2's home in the leafy suburb near the zoo, for a visit, but was persuaded to spend the night.

She arrived in the afternoon, but sometime during the evening Zuma invited her to stay over, and showed her to a bedroom where she could sleep. It is not clear if anyone else was in the R3.5 million house.

November 2, the day of the alleged rape, was the date on which Zuma was expected to receive the state's indictment against him on corruption charges brought after the Durban High Court found he and his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, had a "generally corrupt" relationship.

It was 32°C - one of the hottest days in Johannesburg this year.

Less than three months earlier, Zuma had been rudely woken in the same house when the Scorpions came to seize documents they hoped would help them convict him.

In the indictment the woman, a well-known HIV/ Aids activist, claims she had fallen asleep under the duvet. Then Zuma entered the room.

The man whom she considered a father figure offered to give her a massage. She refused, but Zuma snatched the duvet, and pulled it off her, and proceeded to have sexual intercourse with her against her will and without her consent, she alleges.

During his brief appearance in court yesterday, Zuma did not utter a single word.

He handed in a two-page, hand-written statement proclaiming his innocence.

"I intend to plead not guilty at my trial," Zuma wrote.

He stated that he had a case pending against him, namely of corruption, and that he had previously been convicted in 1963 for "conspiracy to overthrow the government".

Zuma stated that he had 10 dependants.

While granting bail, magistrate Johan Boudrix ordered Zuma to inform investigating officer Superintendent Peter Linda if he intended to travel outside the country and not to contact any of the state witnesses.

According to the charge sheet, Zuma was arrested yesterday and taken into custody, but this was just a formality.

An hour before the court officially opened, suggesting that he was receiving preferential treatment, Zuma was charged and released on bail.

The media were physically barred from witnessing the proceedings. Johannesburg police area commissioner Oswald Reddy sat on a bench across the corridor and smirked when questioned about the legality of the clampdown.

"It's highly confidential. No one's allowed in," he said.

Before 8.30am Zuma was ushered out of the side entrance. He glanced back for a moment, and then left the court through a back entrance.

His bodyguards manhandled a photographer as he took pictures of Zuma's entourage leaving the court.

Attempts to get official answers about the clampdown proved futile. The police and the ministry of justice did not wish to comment.

Reaction to the rape charges flowed in yesterday, with the ANC promising to issue a comprehensive statement today.

Last night the party's national working committee was to hold a special extended session "to consider matters pertaining to the charge".

Meanwhile Noloyiso Mchunu reports that Zuma's family has responded with shock that the man whom they regard as their hero stands charged with one of the most despicable violent crimes.

Speaking for Zuma's Nxamalala clan in Nkandla, northern KwaZulu-Natal, yesterday, his sister, Sbongile Zuma, said she was saddened by the news.

She said the news came as a blow to the family and the entire community - where several Zuma households live.

"Everybody here is in disbelief. We cannot believe what we have heard.

"What can we say? They say he did it. We do not know that. We do not know anything," she said.

With acknowledgements to Alex Eliseev and the Cape Times.