Zuma criticises media for pre-judging him

Jacob Zuma, the ANC deputy president, has criticised the media for pre-judging him

Jacob Zuma, the ANC deputy president, has criticised the media for having pre-judged him during his rape trial. This comes after Zuma was acquitted on a charge of rape by the Johannesburg High Court yesterday.

Speaking to supporters at Beyers Naude Square following his acquittal, Zuma said that the media had insulted him.

He said that he had all along maintained his innocence, making it clear he would not discuss the matter in the media but in court.

Human rights undermined
Zuma went on to thank his supporters for respecting the constitution. He said the media and political analysts broke that law and undermined his human rights.

In finding Zuma not guilty, Judge Willem van der Merwe said that Zuma's version of having consensual sex in his bedroom was "reasonably possibly true" and that the State had failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonale doubt. The judge did however condemn both Zuma and his HIV-positive accuser for engaging in unprotected sex.

Zuma will meanwhile outline his political intentions at a specially convened media conference later today.