Woman who accused S. Africa president of rape dies

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNEBURG

A woman who accused South African President Jacob Zuma of raping her 10 years ago -- nearly ruining his political career -- has died, her family confirmed in a statement late on Sunday.

Fezekile Kuzwayo, commonly known as Kwezi, died aged 41 on Saturday. Her family did not release the cause of death but she had been diagnosed with HIV in 1990.

Kuzwayo made headlines in 2005 after accusing Zuma -- who became president four years later -- of raping her at his Johannesburg home.

Zuma denied the accusation, claiming he had consensual sex with Kuzwayo and took a shower after intercourse to prevent HIV transmission. Zuma’s infamous statement was widely used by satirists and opposition politicians to ridicule him.

He was charged with rape in December 2005, but acquitted a year later. This is the first time that Kuzwayo’s family has released her full name to the public since the rape trial a decade ago.

Her identity had been concealed due to numerous threats made against her and her family.

Fearing for their lives, Kuzwayo and her mother moved to the Netherlands after the rape trial where they lived for several years before returning to South Africa in 2012.

The family described Kuzwayo as a “loving soul” and asked to be given space to mourn privately as they prepare to lay her to rest.

Activists are expected to use her funeral to highlight the plight of sexual abuse in South Africa.

Thousands praised Kuzwayo on social networking sites, saying she was a brave woman who stood up to a powerful politician.