Publication: Sunday Independent Issued: Date: 2006-01-29 Reporter: Jeremy Gordin

Zuma Camp Spooked by Rape Complainant 'Rumours'

 

Publication 

Sunday Independent
Date

2006-01-29

Reporter

 Jeremy Gordin

Web Link

www.sundayindependent.co.za

 

Michael Hulley, the attorney for Jacob Zuma, the former deputy president, has written to the South African Police Services saying that he wants to note his client's concern about the safety and whereabouts of the woman who made a complaint of rape against Zuma.

During the past 14 days, rumours have swirled through Durban and legal circles regarding the whereabouts of the woman, who is in her early 30s, and has been, with her mother, in protective police custody since November. She is said to have briefly "absconded" from protective custody.

Hulley, after consultations with the rest of the Zuma defence team, apparently wanted to ensure that no finger would be pointed at the former deputy president or his supporters if anything negative were to happen to the complainant before the trial, set down in the Johannesburg high court for February 13.

Hulley said: "I know nothing regarding the complainant's 'absconding' except the rumours that I have heard.

"But obviously I take the rumours seriously enough to have expressed concern that nothing happens or has happened that may affect the proper legal process."

The rumours that he was responding to included:

That the woman has made various, apparently unsuccessful, attempts to contact the Zuma camp for some weeks;

That she has been trying to tell the Zuma camp that she intends to deliver a "surprise revelation" when Zuma goes into court on February 13;

That she has been distressed at being held in protective custody; and

That she "absconded" from protective custody for more about a week, but has now gone back into it.

The channels through which she allegedly tried to contact the Zuma camp were via letter (allegedly intercepted by her protectors), a nyanga (herbalist) and the Swazi royal house.

The complainant is Swazi by birth and her family, well-known ANC activists and exiles, come from Swaziland.

One lawyer said: "I pointed out to my colleagues that there is a great deal of disinformation being spread around and that we ought not to pay any attention to alleged 'surprising revelations', or anything of that sort, because it could affect our preparation for what is a very serious case."

Makosini Nkosi, a spokesperson for the national directorate of public prosecutions, said that the complainant was not in a witness protection programme, but in police-organised protective custody. He could not therefore comment on whether she had "absconded" at any point.

Director Sally de Beer, a spokesperson for the police national commissioner, Jackie Selebi, said that the police would not comment on any aspect of the Zuma matter.

With acknowledgements to Jeremy Gordin and Sunday Independent.