Mike Tyson appearance creates criticism
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - January 30, 2008 In a country with one of the highest rates of rape, Zuma was
found not guilty of raping a family friend two years ago. Tyson
served a three-year sentence for the 1991 rape of an 18-year-old
beauty queen in Indiana.
Reporters arriving at the event were handed a statement from
organizers saying Zuma "had been called away on urgent ANC
business, according to a spokesperson in his office."
Women's groups had called on Zuma to withdraw from the event.
Earlier Wednesday, the One in Nine Campaign, a group of women's
rights organizations, had called "the pairing of Zuma and Tyson
... particularly distasteful and abhorrent."
Carrie Shelver, of People Opposing Women Abuse, called Zuma's
withdrawal a good step.
"It may be, and it seems to us, that pressure placed on him in
the media may have swayed him," Shelver said.
About 50,000 rape cases are reported each year in South Africa,
almost 150 per day. Women's rights groups estimate that only one in
nine rapes is reported to police.
Zuma had planned to be the keynote speaker at the banquet, where
an auction of Tyson items were to benefit children's organizations.
African National Congress officials did not immediately return
calls.
Tyson, once called the "baddest man on the planet," will tour
Soweto on Thursday and be a celebrity commentator at a boxing event
on Saturday.
Both Zuma and Tyson are seen as fighters who have survived harsh
upbringings to become powerful popular figures. Both have had
run-ins with the law, and have poor records when it comes to
women's rights.
The 41-year-old boxer, who famously took a bite out of rival
Evander Holyfield's ear, also was accused of abusing his former
wife.
Zuma, who is facing corruption charges, said during his rape
trial that the woman had been wearing a skirt, which he interpreted
as inviting his sexual advances.
Zuma has apologized for his statements during his trial, but
recently earned more criticism from women's groups when he took a
second wife. Polygamy is in line with some South African
traditions.
Zuma's "statements prior, during and post rape trial reveal his
patriarchal beliefs on men and women's roles and rights in South
Africa," the statement from the One in Nine Campaign said.
The women's groups said they couldn't protest at the banquet
venue, a casino and hotel on airport land, which is considered a
key national security point.
Organizers promised Tyson would make a statement during the
banquet denouncing violence against women.
At an earlier press conference, media were warned to stick to
Tyson's sporting career, and questions were initially taken only
from boxing journalists.
Mark Jakins, owner of the casino and hotel were the banquet will
be held, acknowledged many sporting heroes have been "tinged by
controversy," but that organizers were "focusing on Mike Tyson's
credentials as a boxer."
Shelver said Tyson was a poor role model.
"There is some skepticism about his rehabilitation and you need
to be careful," she said. "The youth are an easy target. They
love sporting heroes."
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)