false accusations

Jacob Zuma, South Africa's former deputy president, has just been acuquitted of rape.

The judge said that his accuser, a 31-year-old woman, had a history of making false accusations of rape.

Yeah, that's what women do. Particularly young, vulnerable, HIV+ women in South Africa, where a woman gets raped every 26 seconds, and the conviction rate for rapists is below 7%.

Perhaps she was bored. Or it was that time of the month - we all know how a woman's hormones go haywire every 28 days. She didn't have enough going on in her life. So she thought:

I know - I'll bring charges of rape against one of the most powerful men in the country!

A man double my age, whom I revered as a child, grew up calling "Uncle".

The prospect of crowds of his supporters, chanting for my blood, sending death threats, yelling "Burn the bitch" outside the courthouse, just thrills me!

I can't wait to be grilled on my whole life and sexual history in an open witness stand. Thank God South African law doesn't allow rape victims to testify in camera!

I go all warm and fuzzy when I think of the legal system I'm about to dive into - run by, and filled with, men who are "Uncle's" peers and cronies. I know they'll make the whole experience extra-special for me.

I'm so looking forward to going into hiding for the next few months. To hearing how I obviously begged to be raped because I wore a kanga in his home. Because I "didn't sit properly, with her legs closed" while I had a skirt on.

Oooh, I'm getting excited just thinking about it! How soon can I get down to the police station to file the complaint?


Go to One In Nine to support the campaign against sexual violence in South Africa.