State prosecutor Charin de Beer placed a box of tissues at the witness stand in the Johannesburg High Court 4E ahead of Tuesday's cross-examination of the woman who has laid a rape charge against Jacob Zuma.

The former deputy president arrived at 9.50am wearing a dark blue suit and a red tie.

Flanked by bodyguards, he greeted people by putting his hands together as though praying, smiled at them and entered the court. The woman at the centre of the trial had not been brought into the court yet, but a large orange cushion had been provided to soften the first day of what was expected to be a gruelling round of examination of her testimony.

On Monday she told the court that Zuma, whom she repeatedly referred to as "umalume" (uncle), raped her while she was staying over at his home in Johannesburg.

At first she did not tell anyone, but eventually broke down after an aunt phoned her and over the next two days had a medical examination and laid the charge of rape.

Close female family friends later asked her if she knew that the allegation would rip apart the African National Congress, of which Zuma is deputy president. She said she was offered compensation if she dropped the charges, but she decided to press on.

She was placed in a witness protection programme and while there, she was told by a policewoman to tell a Sunday Times reporter who had contacted her, and a Sunday Tribune reporter who she had been asked to phone, that she denied the charge.

She said no several times before the alleged rape and later also said that, as she was HIV-positive, she would not have had sex without a condom, which Zuma did not use.

Zuma knew she was HIV-positive, she told the court. Lawyers for the State and Zuma's legal team were already in place in the court and police again strictly controlling access to the in camera hearing.

Proceedings were expected to begin at 10am. 

With acknowledgement to Sapa.