The Zuma Trial

[thegeneral]

Jacob Zuma, Former South African VP, was cleared this week of charges of rape. He admitted to having consensual success with the woman in question. Though she was hiv positive he declined to use a condom. He stated that it was his understanding that it was very difficult for men to get hiv from women. He also said he ahd a good shower after having sex so in his mind lessened the consequences of him contacting hiv. The man seems to me a bit of a ************************************g eejit to say the least. A corruption trial is looming in the near future.


Reports of the trial from bbc are available here and here

Up until now Zuma was seen as a successor to Thabo Mbeki, has this now been jeopardised? Also do users think had he not had "pedigree" during the struggle against apartheid his chances of acquital would have been much less?

[Dee Four]

He seems to be shockingly ignorant. If one of the top politicians in the country displays such a fundamental misunderstanding of HIV, pity the nation.

Also do users think had he not had "pedigree" during the struggle against apartheid his chances of acquital would have been much less?

I have no reason to think so. From what I can tell, the verdict was based on the judge's view that the sex was consentual. The girl spent the night with him and hung around the following morning.

[The OD]

Jacob Zuma, Former South African VP, was cleared this week of charges of rape. He admitted to having consensual success with the woman in question. Though she was hiv positive he declined to use a condom. He stated that it was his understanding that it was very difficult for men to get hiv from women. He also said he ahd a good shower after having sex so in his mind lessened the consequences of him contacting hiv. The man seems to me a bit of a f****** eejit to say the least. A corruption trial is looming in the near future.


Reports of the trial from bbc are available here and here

Up until now Zuma was seen as a successor to Thabo Mbeki, has this now been jeopardised? Also do users think had he not had "pedigree" during the struggle against apartheid his chances of acquital would have been much less?

Had little knowledge of this and after reading up, I believe your view of him

a bit of a f****** eejit

is an understatement to say the least.

In a country ravaged by AIDS, this man is lauded as a man of the people with the common touch - it seems that his trial was but a formality to a lot of south africans and his appalling attitude to AIDS when he is such a role model is disgraceful. If he had any decency he would take a less public role. Reinforcing stupid misconceptions is the last thing south africa needs right now.