The Herald (South Africa)

Yes, I believe Khwezi, Sisulu says of rape claim

- Nomahlubi Jordaan

HUMAN Settlement­s Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has revealed her thoughts on the woman who accused President Jacob Zuma of rape.

“Yes‚ I believe Khwezi. I understood the outcome of this particular unfortunat­e debacle to have been one where perhaps there was a misunderst­anding of intent‚” Sisulu said in a radio interview yesterday.

“I believe Khwezi. She was brought up with my children. She was like a daughter to me‚” she told host Eusebius McKaiser.

Asked to elaborate‚ she said: “I believe she believes she was raped. I don’t know if I have evidence to say she was raped.”

She said South Africans should not be concerned about whether victims of abuse were believed or not‚ but on changing perception­s.

“We must fight to push the boundaries of patriarchy. It’s a question of whether we have necessary structures to support them [victims of abuse]‚ not whether we believe them or not.”

Sisulu said Khwezi was like one of Zuma’s children.

“I believe there was a strong relationsh­ip between the president and Khwezi. She was like one of President Zuma’s children.”

Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo‚ also known as Khwezi‚ accuse dZ u mao frap ingh erin 2005.

Zuma, who was deputy president of the country at the time, denied the allegation­s‚ and he was found not guilty in 2006.

Khwezi went into exile following the trial after receiving death threats. She returned to the country last year and died. – TimesLIVE

 ??  ?? LINDIWE SISULU
LINDIWE SISULU

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