Rape Crisis has slammed parliament's invitation to Jacob Zuma to attend the state of the nation address as a VIP guest.

It has also taken issue with the National Press Club for making the embattled politician its newsmaker of the year.

Zuma, who remains the ANC's deputy president - in name only, pending his rape trial - also faces a corruption trial this year.

He is to appear in the Johannesburg High Court on a charge of rape on February 13, 10 days after President Thabo Mbeki's state of the nation address in parliament.

National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete confirmed last week that Zuma, and dignitaries such as former presidents Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, would be among the guests of honour.

On Monday, the Cape Town Rape Crisis organisation said in a statement it was "extremely shocked and frustrated at the lack of political will and complete disregard for survivors' rights that the government has demonstrated in its response to the rape charges against ex-deputy president Jacob Zuma".

Whether Zuma was found guilty of the rape or not was not the point.

"The point is that there are allegations, and enough evidence has been gathered to continue with a trial."

The invitation reinforced "the perception that if you are a parliamentarian, a government official, a prominent person or have lots of money, there will be no serious consequences to a charge of rape" and that it would "lead rape survivors to believe that if and when they speak out, they will not be taken seriously and supported", Rape Crisis added.

It was important for the government - whether there was a conviction or not - to take a firm position and to demonstrate to the broader public that rape, irrespective of the political and social position of the alleged perpetrator, would not be tolerated.

Rape Crisis accused the Pretoria-based National Press Club of "perpetuating the confusion created by seemingly giving an award to an individual for his notoriety in the press based on allegations of rape, among other matters".

It urged the press club "to reflect on whether the newsmaker of the year should be seen as a role-model for South African society and consider what they are saying to survivors of rape and sexual violence, and the public in general, regarding the value of women in our country".

Press club chairperson Ben Rootman, defending the club's decision, said the award was not based on merit.

The criteria included impact and coverage in the electronic and print media.

"He (Zuma) dominated the news since the Schabir Shaik trial," Rootman said.

It was on the same basis that cricketer Hansie Cronjé had received the award.

With acknowledgements to Linda Daniels and The Star.