PRETORIA: The family of "Khwezi" – President Jacob Zuma’s rape accuser – asked to be given space yesterday to mourn her death privately.
Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo, popularly known as Khwezi, died on Saturday, her family have confirmed. They said she had been ill.
Khwezi had been back home in South Africa from the Netherlands, where she lived after being granted a five-year political asylum with her mother in July 2007.
It is unclear when exactly she returned home, but in 2012 political party Azapo launched a campaign to bring her home, saying it did not understand why she should be in exile.
“It is with our deepest sorrow that the Kuzwayo family announce the passing of our daughter. In our family she was lovingly known as Fezeka, and in the public domain her supporters called her Khwezi,” read a statement from her mother, Beauty Sibongile Kuzwayo.
“We ask that we be given the space to mourn privately as we prepare to lay her to rest. A private funeral service will be held for close family and friends. Information about her public memorial service will be announced in due course.”
The Aids activist died aged 42. Her mother said she was a loving soul, daughter, sister and aunt who would forever be held dear in her heart.
The One in Nine Campaign described her as a feminist, an activist, teacher, sister, friend and colleague who inspired people close to her and women in general.
“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,” the movement stated.
She was the daughter of Judson Kuzwayo, an ANC member who was imprisoned on Robben Island from 1963 to 1973. The father died in 1985 in a car accident in Zambia when Fezeka was 10. She grew up in exile, including in Zambia.
In November 2005, she laid charges of rape against Zuma, then the deputy president of the country.
She had visited the “comrade of her father” whom she saw as a father figure, and claimed he had invited her to spend the night.
During the trial, Zuma said he had had sex with her, but that it had been consensual.
To reduce the risk of HIV infection, he famously told the court he took a shower afterwards.
On May 8, 2006, Zuma was acquitted for lack of evidence, with Judge Willem van der Merwe finding that the sexual intercourse had taken place with consent.
Zuma did not deny having sex with her, but claimed the victim wore a khanga and had in his view “asked for it”.
In her application for asylum, Khwezi had said she was no longer safe in South Africa, and was being threatened by Zuma supporters.
Soon after settling in the Netherlands, Khwezi, dressed in a khanga, performed a poem on the eve of the biannual Afrovibes Festival, in which she literally responded for the first time to the court’s verdict.
In it she referred to the man who called himself "my daddy’s best friend", who shared a cell with him on Robben Island for 10 years.
“He said I wanted it; That my khanga said it; That with it I lured him to my bed; That with it I want you is what I said; But what about the NO I uttered with my mouth; Not once but twice,” read the poem. “My world is a world where sex is pleasurable not painful.”
During the announcement of the local government elections results in August, four young women caused a stir when they went to the front and protested over the rape trial.
Their placards read “10 years later”, “Remember Khwezi”, “I am one in 3," and “Khanga” while Zuma delivered his speech.
KwaZulu-Natal abuse organisations were shocked and saddened by the death of Khwezi, but took the opportunity to herald her as an “inspiration” to rape survivors.
Cookie Edwards, director of the KZN Network on Violence Against Women, said last night: “She (Khwezi) put a face to the word ‘rape’; she wasn’t afraid to speak out.
“Every woman and man can carry her forward as an icon. She was strong to stand on her word and never divert from her story.”
Edwards believes Khwezi’s story can inspire survivors to speak out. She said more campaigns should be done to honour Khwezi’s bravery.
“It’s very sad news,” said Lubna Nadvi, of the Durban-based Advice Desk for Abused Women. – Additional reporting by Kerushun Pillay