The Kanga and the Kangaroo Court: Reflections on the Rape Trial of Jacob Zuma Book

I was in a constant state of sadness, anger, shock and despondency whilst reading this book. I don't cry easily , but tears were a regular feature. The multiple victimization of Khwezi was cruel and horrendous. More sad is that ten years down the line, the pcychological and physical warfare on women has gotten worse. Women continue to be molested , mutilated , murdered as if it is a national sport.

Motsei reflected on the rape case of the then deputy president of South Africa and Khwezi, real name Fezekile Kuzwayo , two years after it all happened, and a year after the accused was acquitted. She uses the ordeal to mirror the deep, and deep routed matter of women abuse, and reiterates the fact that rape is a crime of power and violence.

The author lays it bare, puts it all into perspective, opens up the wound to show its, blood, rot , stench and decay.

In an easy to read type of thesis , Motsei discusses , dissects and gives corroborating evidence that :

Rape and femicide was the norm in biblical times, during colonialism, during slavery , during apartheid and in post apartheid SA.

" ... I was however totally unprepared to find so many atrocious accounts of sexual molestation and femicide in the Bible.."

She discusses, at length the contributing factors of war, liberation movements, tradition , culture, policing and the justice system. The issue of patriarchal women cuts like a knife.

"Through an organized tyranny of religion, tradition, political, legal and economic systems, women's minds have been constrained and their bodies violated without consent... "

Motsei makes recommendations, proposes solutions which I feel can only be achievable if all concerned, especially the perpertrators are committed, empathetic and operate at high levels of consciousness and spirituality.

An informative narration that drew from giants like Lauretta Ngcobo, Credo Mutwa, Eskia Mphahlele, Angela Davis , Thomas Sankara, Zakes Mda and many more.

Topics that break our hearts, and remain our realities.

The book Rape by Prof Gcola and The Kanga And Kangaroo Court, should be read by all South Africans, to also tackle possible blind spots, bias , and ignorance we might have about the subject of rape More importantly to introspect on our behaviour in personal spaces. What we vocalize should reflect in our actions and reactions.