[DEBATE] : Re: Zuma NOT GUILTY

[Linn Hjort]

	She is not fleeing the country in shame, she is leaving because her safety is not guaranteed, something which has been recognised by the state's security services. There are too many people in this country who are prepared to hurt women who dare to speak out against patriarchy, in this case in the shape of accusing a man of raping her. Charlene and others have presented the figures that state the enormously low conviction rate of rapists. If these figures represent an objective reality, it would mean that almost 100 per cent of all women who take rapists to court are lying, if the massive amount of acquittals is anything to go by. Not even you, Peter, and the rest of you unapologetic Zuma supporters on this list can believe that. In other words: just because a man gets acquitted does not mean he didn't do it.

No man would voluntarily state that he raped a woman. Even men who admit they had sex with a woman without her consent would not label it 'rape' but simply their 'right'. The question is: who has the right to decide what is 'consensual sex'? So far, too many men claim that right without asking us women, and when we challenge that claim, we are forced to defend the way we dress, speak to men, our sexual - or abusive - past. As if it is the women going to trial who are guilty of disrespect, humiliation, power abuse and violence...

Linn Hjort



> Från: Peter Mahlangu <tshankimahlangu at yahoo.com>
> Till: debate at lists.kabissa.org
> Rubrik: [DEBATE] : Zuma NOT GUILTY
> Datum: Mon, 8 May 2006 06:20:59 -0700 (PDT)

> Justice is done, another false rape allegation (a tip
> of the iceberg) exposed for what it is, and the
> disgraced complainant packs her bags in shame as she
> flees the country.
> 
> ZUMA NOT GUILTY
> 
> Judge Willem van der Merwe has found that the deputy
> president of the ANC, Jacob Zuma, had consensual sex
> with an HIV-positive family friend at his home in
> Forest Town, Johannesburg.
> 
> The woman had accused him of raping her at his home in
> Forest Town, Johannesburg in November 2005. Both
> testified that a condom was not used.
> 
> During the trial, Zuma's attorney Kemp J Kemp
> portrayed the accuser as a woman who had cried rape
> several times, and as being scared of sex. Now that
> the judgment has been reached, she is expected to
> leave the country, apparently for her own safety,
> after threats to her life were made. 
> 
> Zuma has come under fire for his comments about Aids
> during the trial. The ANC deputy president testified
> that he had a shower immediately after having
> intercourse with the woman to lessen his chances of
> contracting HIV. 
> 
> <a
> href=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=iol114706522
> 3431N324>http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=iol11470
> 65223431N324</a>
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