One in Nine Campaign on Monday said it was “devastated” by the death of Fezekile Kuzwayo, the HIV-positive woman who accused President Jacob Zuma of rape 10 years ago.
Formed in 2006 to support Kuzwayo during Zuma’s rape trial, the One in Nine Campaign is a network of organisations and individuals to support and advocate for the rights of women. The support group speaks out against sexual violence as well as other survivors.
In a statement on Sunday, Kuzwayo’s family said she had died on Saturday, but did not disclose her cause of death. She had been living with HIV for 26 years after she was diagnosed in 1990.
“It is with our deepest sorrow that the Kuzwayo family announces the passing of our daughter Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo. In our family she was lovingly known as Fezeka, and in the public domain her supporters called her Khwezi,” the family said.
Zuma, who was then deputy president, was acquitted of the rape charge in 2006 and went on to become the country’s president in 2009.
During the trial, Zuma said the sex had been consensual as Kuzwayo had “asked for it” and that he had taken a shower after having unprotected sex with her to minimise his chances of contracting the virus.
But in a statement on Monday, One in Nine said it continued to believe that Kuzwayo was raped, despite the outcome of the court case.
“Just over 10 years ago Fezeka, known to the media as Khwezi, was raped by Jacob Zuma. She refused to be silent,” One in Nine said.
“She opened a rape case against him, which, eventually, was more about putting her on trial than him. He was acquitted on 8 May 2006 and Fezeka and her mother lost their home and were forced into exile.”
After perceived threats to her life, Kuzwayo and her mother left South Africa for the Netherlands where she was granted a five-year political asylum in 2007.
In her application, Kuzwayo had said she no longer felt safe in South Africa and was being threatened by Zuma supporters.
“Despite the characterisation in the mainstream corporate media and in court, Fezeka to us was a feminist, an activist, a teacher, a sister, a friend, a colleague who inspired people close to her and women who only knew her Khwezi. She reminded us and will continue to remind us to always speak truth to power,” said One in Nine.
“To Fezeka’s mom and those that have continued to support her over the years, we extend our love and deepest sympathies. We continue to believe her and we will continue to fight for justice for Fezeka and all survivors.”
Kuzwayo’s plight was sharply brought back into public consciousness on 6 August when four young women held a silent protest in front of the state during Zuma’s speech when he accepted the results for local government elections at the IEC National Results Operations Centre.
The women held up placards written in red with words “Remember Khwezi”, “10 years later”, “I am Kanga”, “I am one in 3″.
One of the #RememberKhwezi protesters, Simamkele Dlakavu on twitter said: “She sacrificed herself for all of us. Gave us her name and her pain to mobilise against patriarchal violence. We owe so much to Fezeka Kuzwayo.”
There would be a private funeral for Kuzwayo and a public memorial later this week.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
