Publication: Cape Argus Issued: Date: 2005-12-02 Reporter: Angela Quintal Reporter: Jeremy Gordin Reporter: Kevin Ritchie

Weekend Speech may be Zuma's Last

 

Publication 

Cape Argus

Date

2005-12-02

Reporter

 Jeremy Gordin, Kevin Ritchie, Angela Quintal

Web Link

www.capeargus.co.za

 

Jacob Zuma's address at Cosatu's 20th anniversary celebrations on Sunday may well be his last public speech as ANC deputy president. He is poised to "take a leave of absence" should he be charged with rape.

His legal team expect some indication next week as to whether he will be charged.

Zuma met trade unionists and other alliance partners in KwaZulu-Natal last week, and told them that if he was charged with rape, he would "step aside" as ANC deputy president. This would be the moral thing to do pending the outcome of his trial.

Zuma has denied the allegation, laid by the 31-year-old daughter of a prominent ANC activist who died in exile. The woman and her mother were close family friends of Zuma's. The HIV-positive complainant is a well-known Aids activist in Gauteng.

Zuma has steadfastly told his supporters since the story broke last month that it was not rape, but that he had consensual sex.

According to the Mail & Guardian, Cosatu leaders convinced Zuma not to resign this week for fear of creating pandemonium at the anniversary celebrations this weekend in Durban.

Had Zuma resigned, the paper reported, Cosatu leaders would have had to stop him speaking at the meeting, and they feared the masses would have attacked union leaders for sidelining Zuma.

A close Zuma friend said today: "I don't know what the song and dance is about. JZ decided long ago to take leave of absence if he is charged in connection with this rape complaint."

He added: "JZ is fully mindful of what he has and has not to do about certain things."

Of reports that Zuma had told his supporters he had had "consensual sex" with the rape complainant, the source said: "This is old hat to anyone who has been involved with this issue. But the real thing is that it doesn't do anyone any good to go around second-guessing and forecasting what JZ's defence is going to be - if in fact he is ever charged."

Zuma's attorney, Michael Hulley, was not available for comment.

Zuma is poised to give a message of support to Cosatu faithful on Sunday at the celebrations.

This week he attended the ANC's national working committee meeting in Johannesburg, as well as a meeting of the party's top six officials, where he gave no hint of his impending action.

It was business as usual, with the party's top brass concentrating on preparations for the local government election, and Zuma's woes were not discussed at all.

He then retreated to his traditional home in Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal.

With acknowledgements to Jeremy Gordin, Kevin Ritchie, Angela Quintal and Cape Argus.