Not only was South Africa’s recent local elections considered one of the most important the country has ever had, but the outcome of the people’s decision has rocked the once beautifully constructed people’s party.

When Jacob Zuma stood at the IEC result ceremony to issue a statement this past weekend, a crucial reminder was bestowed upon South Africa – our dear president’s 2006 accusation of rape.

Four women stood in front of him and held up A4 pieces of white paper simply stating: “I am 1 in 3”, “#”, “10 years later”, “Khanga” and “Remember Khwezi”.

The first poster referred to statistics which indicate one in three women in South Africa are sexually abused in their lifetime, along with the hashtag. The rest read: It was ten years ago when Jacob Zuma was accused of raping a woman known only as Khwezi. She was wearing a Khanga, a decorated cotton fabric that people drape around themselves, when Jacob Zuma raped her.

Here’s what we know about Khwezi, thanks to The Daily Vox:

Khwezi, which means Star, is the daughter of an ANC member who was imprisoned on Robben Island with Zuma for ten years. He died in a car accident in 1985.

As a child, Khwezi lived in exile in Zambia and Swaziland, and moved back to South Africa in 1990.  After her father’s death she met Jacob Zuma, who was a friend of her father’s, and grew very close to him, regarding him as a father figure.

In 1999 she discovered that she was HIV positive, and thereafter become an Aids activist.

Khwezi, who identifies as a lesbian, faced an incredibly gruelling, invasive and traumatic cross-examination during the trial, as well as a physical examination to determine whether rape had actually occurred.

Zuma infamously said that he had a shower after having sex with Khwezi. Hence Zapiro’s shower head on every cartoon related to Zuma.

When Zuma concluded his speech, the women were forcefully removed and could be heard shouting as they exited the venue.

More footage of the women being removed:

Daily Maverick writer Richard Poplak was at the ceremony and wrote an ostentatious piece on what the ANC must be going through as votes for the party have plunged drastically. Here’s just a snippet, relating to the last stand:

Zuma began his blathering: he is used to young women twerking in front of him at ANC events, and perhaps he thought of this as classier version of the same. I was sitting alongside Kate Bapela, ostensibly in charge of the ceremony, and she had no idea what to do. In leaned Small Business Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, her breath hot with indignation.

“Remove them,” she spat. “How can they do this? In what country would this be allowed?”

Ah, wouldn’t it be great to be in Turkey right now, Minister?

There the women stood, human sculptures, an art installation, shaking with fear or rage or both, instantly wiping away the self-important burnishing of this election process.

This was people’s power.

This was agency.

This undermined Zuma in a way that is almost metaphysical, while the election results only empowered him and his sleazebag faction.

After his ridiculously short speech, the Republican Guards moved in, slamming the women back into the stage, and then dragging them out the VIP exit. (Turns out they weren’t damaged, and nor were they arrested.)

Uncle Gweezy materialized from the ether, assuring us that this was another example of South Africa’s awesome democracy in action.

He drifted out with the dignitaries, Uncle Gweezy, the ghost of a ghost’s ghost.

Outside, the music pumped. But no one looked like they were in the mood for a party. The late winter crescent moon hung in the sky like a scythe. Five pieces of paper had worked like a car bomb, blowing the night apart.

They are coming for you, President Zuma.

The people are coming.

Indeed they are.

[source: dailymaverick&mg&news24]