Mkhize spills the beans on Zuma

ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize yesterday made startling revelations about how President Jacob Zuma had in 2005 revealed to him that he had had sexual intercourse with Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo, a daughter of their late comrade.

Yesterday, he issued a seven-page long statement in reaction to City Press questions on whether he had tried to convince Kuzwayo to drop charges against Zuma.

The paper had yesterday reported on the content of a book Khwezi: The Remarkable Story of Fezekile Ntsukela Khuzwayo authored by veteran radio journalist Redi Tlhabi and expected to be launched in the next few weeks.

When an allegation of rape emerged against him, Zuma was the deputy president and facing corruption charges at the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

The book claims that Mkhize had advised Kuzwayo to drop the rape case against Zuma but she rejected his advice.

According to the City Press, the book revealed that prior to and during the rape trial, Kuzwayo, whose late father, Judson Kuzwayo, was Zuma and Mkhize’s close friend in exile during the liberation struggle, had faced constant intimidation at the hands of Zuma’s supporters, which led her to leave the country. Kuzwayo died last year. Reacting to the allegations, Mkhize denied persuading Kuzwayo to drop the rape charges. He said he had taken a stance that he had not been prepared to talk about the case, but decided to open up followingthe City Press story implicating him. His statement said he was now compelled to reveal how Zuma confessed to him.

He said in 2005 he received a call from Zuma telling him that “he had made a terrible mistake of having sexual relations with Fezeka”.

He said after Zuma had informed him that Kuzwayo had intended to lay criminal charges, he asked Zuma why this was the case if the sex had been consensual.

“He (Zuma) said he himself wasn’t sure what could have upset her as he was under the impression that all was well between them.

“He said Fezeka had not raised any issues or complaint with him. He appeared to be puzzled about what had gone wrong between them.”

When contacted about the allegations, Zuma’s spokesman, Bongani Ngqulunga, said: “The matter was dealt with in court in an open trial. There is therefore nothing new to add.”