Zuma anti-rape protesters were ‘planted’

THE four young women who staged an anti-rape protest while President Jacob Zuma delivered his election acceptance speech were “planted” by someone who undermined Zuma, ANC Youth League treasurer Reggie Nkabinde said yesterday.

“I am upset about the behaviour of the person who planted those women there.

“The rape case against President Zuma was closed a long time ago, it is a chapter buried a long time ago. Where were the women all these years? Why did they only come out now during elections? ” asked Nkabinde.

“This was an agenda to undermine a sitting president. They tried many times to undermine the president before, and he is still standing even today … they’re not going to succeed, we’re going with him into 2019.”

Electoral Commission of SA deputy chairman Terry Tselane said yesterday that the commission had apologised to Zuma over the silent protest.

Four young women, who were manning the Econimic Freedom Fighters’ desk at the IEC results centre throughout the week, went to the front and held placards that referred to Zuma’s rape trial in 2006.

Zuma was acquitted of raping a 31-year-old HIV-positive family friend at his home in Johannesburg in 2005.

Meanwhile, the youth league postponed its media briefing yesterday, as municipal coalition talks between the governing party, the Democratic Alliance, the EFF and smaller parties continued. – ANA