President Jacob Zuma

Fresh from acquittal on rape charges that made worldwide headlines, former Deputy President Jacob Zuma is back in court today in an arms-dealing case highlighting South Africa's fight against government corruption. On the same day, 29 lawmakers and travel agents go on trial, accused of defrauding Parliament of up to $3.4 million by misusing vouchers intended for official travel to pay for luxury vacations, meals and car rentals.

A woman who accused former South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma of rape testified that the man she had known since she was 5 forced himself on her when she was at his home. Zuma pleaded not guilty and, in a statement read by his attorney, said his accuser spent the night willingly at his home in November and the two had had consensual sex for some time. At no time, he said, did she say she was having sex against her will.

Mobs rampaged through poor suburbs of Johannesburg, South Africa, in a frenzy of anti-foreigner violence over the weekend, killing at least seven people, injuring dozens and forcing hundreds to seek refuge at police stations. The attacks capped a week of violence that started in the sprawling township of Alexandra. Angry residents accused foreigners -- many of them Zimbabweans who have fled their own country's economic collapse -- of taking scarce jobs and housing.

The South African art gallery that displayed an explicit painting of President Jacob Zuma has removed the offending work of art, according to The Times' World Now blog. The decision was made amid a climate of protest and escalating social unrest surrounding the painting, which depicts Zuma with his genitals exposed. The Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg had displayed "The Spear," by artist Brett Murray, as part of a group show devoted to politically satirical art. Zuma had gone to court in reaction to the exhibit, claiming in a lawsuit that the painting violated his right to dignity and demanding the gallery remove it. The controversy reached a fever pitch in the last couple of weeks.

In a country with the highest rate of rape in the world, Deputy President Jacob Zuma said Wednesday that a commission is studying the possibility of chemically castrating repeat rapists. "The South African Law Commission is currently considering the human rights implications and feasibility of chemically castrating repeat sex offenders. Their report will be considered once it is compiled," Zuma told parliament.

Five employees of South Africa's top prosecutor, who is pursuing corruption cases against senior government leaders and politicians, became ill after handling a letter sent anonymously to their boss, the office announced Monday. Prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe did not touch the letter, but the five staff members who did complained of headaches and skin rashes Thursday, said Tlali Tlali, a spokesman.

South African Jonathan Shapiro received the 2007 Courage in Cartooning Award this month from the Cartoonists Rights Network (full disclosure: I'm on the board). Shapiro, who goes by the nom de plume Zapiro, is being sued by former South African Deputy President (and wannabe future president) Jacob Zuma. Zuma lost his post in 1995 amid an arms-deal scandal and was later tried on rape charges. Zapiro's cartoons about the trial prompted the lawsuit. Zapiro responded the only way he knew how ...

Congolese and Rwandan leaders said Monday that they had reached an agreement to end a four-year war in Congo--a fight that has defied resolution as it claimed more than 2 million lives, mostly from starvation and disease. "We have reached an understanding and agreement at a technical stage," said South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma, who chaired the talks.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- South Africa's beloved former president, Nelson Mandela, was hospitalized in a Pretoria military hospital Saturday for tests. The 94-year-old Mandela, his nation's first black president, has had several health scares in recent years that sparked rumors of his death. But this time, the office of President Jacob Zuma reassured South Africans in a statement that there was no cause for alarm for the man they know affectionately as Madiba. "Former President Mandela will receive medical attention from time to time which is consistent with his age. President Zuma assures all that Madiba is doing well and there is no cause for alarm," the statement said.

The national police commissioner, who faces charges of corruption and trying to protect a convicted drug smuggler, has gone on extended leave, the South African president said Saturday. The National Prosecuting Authority said Friday that charges would be filed soon against Jackie Selebi, who also holds the largely ceremonial post of president of Interpol. Selebi has denied any wrongdoing.