Jacob Zuma Trial Protests

So on Monday Former Deputy Presedent Jacob Zuma was aquitted of rape charges. At some point I will go into what made this such a crazy period in SA history but not right now. Anyway. Jennifer and I went to go look at some of the demonstrations outside the high court.

In this photo you can see the protest, which is swarmed by photojournalists. The people standing on the balcony in the upper right are all journalists. The pretty building in the background is the high court itself. The woman on the bottom right is wearing ANC colored beads.

Photojournalists peer down from above. I've never experenced an event of international import before in my life. And let me tell you, the journalists are really good at hiding themselves in the pictures and video we see in our living rooms. Litterally the place was swarming. They were right in the middle of toyi-toyi (protest dance) circles. They were in the faces of people shouting. Jennifer and I got our pictures taken at least twice.

Again I tried to get a picture of a camera man. In the middle of this photo someone is holding aloft a cross that says "why are you crucifying Jacob Zuma?"

More Toyi-toyi.

There were maybe 20 people protesting against Zuma, and in support of stronger Rape laws. After the verdict was read the Zuma supporters broke through this fence and these women scattered. As far as I know no one was hurt. But still.

A Zuma supporter holds a sign that says "no woman presedent". Thabo Mbeki has said that his successor will be a woman. The woman who replaced Zuma after he was forced to step down is expected to be that woman. I dont know why this was even an issue. But it was.

A Zuma supporter wears a shirt with his picture along with many other heros of the struggle.

Jennifer and I retreated to a coffee shop accross from the high court to watch the procedings on TV. The place was packed with ANC activists and journalists. And then us.

People outside peered in the widows to watch the TV.

Two photo journalists take pictures of the crowd around the TV. My picture may show up on the AP wire.

The police were preping for a riot when we left. Notice the razor wire.

It took another 4 hours after we returned to campus for the descision to finaly be read. Not guilty.