Updates on Kinshasa streetkids and Zuma's rape trial

Following up on an entry that I wrote recently (found here), I am posting a link from the BBC highlighting a Human Rights Watch report that indicates that up to 70% of streetkids in Kinshasa are abused and thrown out as a result of accusations of sorcery.

And to follow up on my initial entry about the rape trial of Zuma (potential successor to President Thabo Mbeki) in South Africa, boy, BBC is really churning out the news on this one.

Zuma apparently thinks that there is no risk associated with his unprotected sex habits, even with a woman publicly known to be HIV+.

Oh, did I mention that he is the former head of the National Aids Council??

Also, this case has reportedly "reveal[ed the] SA rape problem.

Because we didn't know that rape was a problem before.

At any rate, it tells us that "A woman is raped in South Africa every 26 seconds, according to Powa's estimate. Only one in nine rapes that takes place in South Africa is ever reported - out of the reported cases, only 7% lead to a conviction, Powa says." Though the definition of rape is not provided here, the article states that it is narrow, and that the trial will likely focus on the woman's sexual history.

In the link above, it also states that Zuma's accuser has been in hiding for three months (now over 4 months) and is in a witness protection program. No wonder, since Zuma has a lot of supporters.