http://pub.tv2.no/multimedia/na/arch...-i_221154s.jpg
Jubilation and joy marked the acquittal of Jacob Zuma on Monday on a charge of raping a woman at his home last year.
When judge Willem van der Merwe ended a marathon summary with the words, "The accused is found not guilty," Zuma's supporters jumped up and started shrieking.
They stood on the court benches, some sobbing, and started singing, "uZuma yo my president" and stopped suddenly when Van der Merwe asked that they wait until he left.
As he left they said "sh sh sh" and as soon as he walked out, Zuma was surrounded and hugged.
The man at the centre of the trial saved the longest hug for his lawyer, Kemp J Kemp, who produced an exhaustive defence during the trial which started on February 13.
Kemp only said "I am happy" when asked for comment.
Outside the court, one of Zuma's most loyal supporters, Euginia Yantsho, said: "Where's Kemp, where's Kemp? I just want to give him a mwah mwah" (a kiss).
Speaking in Zulu after the verdict, Zuma stood with his daughter Duduzile and told supporters at Beyers Naude Square: "I am happy today."
People hung from trees and stood on top of police vans to get a better view of Zuma, who castigated the media.
"They insulted me and called me names."
Without identifying anybody, he added: "Others were not doing it on their own but were sent by some people somewhere."
Zuma maintained his innocence and has said there was a political conspiracy to remove him from the running for the country's next president.
Chairperson of the Jacob Zuma Trust, Don Mkhwanazi, said: "The judge is amazing. This is very encouraging for South Africa because we cannot allow ourselves to doubt the justice system."
Van der Merwe had told the court on November 2 last year: "I find that consensual sex took place between the complainant and the accused in the main bedroom."
But he said it was "totally unacceptable" for a man to have unprotected sex with a woman who was not his regular partner, especially knowing that she was HIV-positive.
"Had Rudyard Kipling known of this case at the time he wrote his poem 'If', he might have added the following: 'And if you can control your body and your sexual urges, then you are a man, my son'."
He also said "he would not even comment" on Zuma's evidence that he had a shower after the intercourse to lessen his chances of contracting the virus.
Van der Merwe said Zuma's evidence as a whole could be believed as it was reasonably true.
He added that the trial was unique, with unique features, and should not be regarded as discouragement to women who had been raped, as they were different to the accused.
He said the case was a good example why pressure groups should not jump to conclusions before hearing all the evidence.
President Thabo Mbeki accepted the acquittal.
"The presidency respects the independence of the judiciary and accepts the verdict," Mbeki's spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanda said. He declined further comment.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) expressed disappointment after the acquittal but respected and accepted it, the authority said in a media statement.
State prosecutor Charin de Beer picked up her bag and left the court quickly when the verdict was made known.
The tripartite alliance welcomed the judgment. The African National Congress, the SA Communist Party and the Congress of SA Trade Unions said: "We call on all South Africans to accept and respect the judgment handed down today. The judgment means Jacob Zuma is innocent of the charges levelled against him and, as the judge indicated, was falsely accused."
It continued: "The alliance extends a special message of support and empathy to both families involved who, during a distressing time, have had to endure the public exposure of personal details that would under other circumstances have remained private."
After Zuma was charged with rape last year, his participation in the leading structures of the ANC was suspended. However, he remained deputy president of the party.
As supporters streamed to Beyers Naude Square, they jeered the small group of rape awareness campaigners.
"We are really sad and disappointed and not particularly surprised," said Dawn Cavanagh, from the Gender Aids Forum, which had joined the One In Nine Campaign.
"We have a conviction rate of probably under seven percent in this country," Cavanagh said.
When Zuma left the crowd, some armed with pangas, ran through central Johannesburg chanting "Thabo Mbeki, where is the bitch?". One of the marchers approached Sapa journalists waving his panga, saying : "Wena unamanga (you the media, are liars)".
Van der Merwe ordered that the complainant's identity could not be revealed without written permission from her and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Zuma will address a news media conference at Talk Radio 702 on Tuesday. - Sapa
