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Poynter faculty member Scott Libin, who is in South Africa teaching with the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism, assesses the fallout from the long-awaited verdict in the nation's biggest courtroom drama.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA -- You'd never mistake this place for the United States. South Africa is a fascinating land that's different from the U.S. in many ways. There are eleven official languages. The constitution is only a decade old. Traffic lights are called "robots." 
 
Yet during my first week in the country, I encountered here something quite familiar to me. It turns out that the popularity among politicians of trashing the media transcends international borders. 
 
The story of the year here is the acquittal this week of former Deputy President Jacob Zuma. He was charged with rape and admitted having extramarital, unprotected sex with an HIV-positive woman last year. Every television set I saw [on May 8] was tuned in to the five-hour reading of the verdict. After the judge chose Zuma's story over that of his accuser, Zuma turned his attention to a less sympathetic target: journalists. 

From Johannesburg's Mail & Guardian:

Jacob Zuma castigated the media for having pre-judged him after he was acquitted on a charge of rape by the Johannesburg High Court on [May 8].

Speaking in Zulu after the verdict, he told supporters at Beyers Naude Square: "They insulted me and called me names."

Without identifying anyone, he added: "Others were not doing it on their own but were sent by some people somewhere."

Zuma said that he had all along maintained his innocence, making it clear he would not discuss the matter in the media but in court...

"The trial ended this morning. It is over. But there is something I wish to tell you. I want to express my gratitude for supporting me at a time when the 'educated' people of this country said a lot of stuff trying to confuse the people's minds," [said Zuma].

Zuma was not alone in his media criticism, according to the South African Broadcasting Company:

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, the health minister, and Thami Mseleku, her director general, have accused the media of sowing confusion in the wake of Jacob Zuma, the former deputy president's statement, about showering after sleeping with an HIV-positive woman.

Zuma told the Johannesburg High Court during his recent rape trial that he took a shower to reduce the risk of HIV infection after having sex with his accuser. The statement was widely reported in the media. Asked at a media briefing [on May 11] whether Zuma's statement had undermined government's campaign to combat HIV/AIDS, Tshablala-Msimang said the media had "sowed a lot of confusion".

The media was fully aware of government's comprehensive HIV/AIDS plan and strategy, but instead of highlighting this, it had "sensationalised only that bit" -- Zuma's statement. This had confused the public about HIV/Aids prevention, which was very regrettable, she said. Mseleku said it was not Zuma's statement "per se" that undermined the strategy, but rather the media's "hammering" on it.

 A day later, the SABC reported on the first public response in defense of the media:

The Media Institution of Southern Africa (MISA-SA) has challenged institutions and individuals who have been criticizing the media recently to substantiate their allegations.

Raymond Louw, the MISA-SA's deputy chairman, said in a statement that MISA viewed what he termed as media bashing in a serious light. He says since all the allegations are unsubstantiated, they are rejecting them.

Louw said the worst outburst against the media came from Zuma after he was acquitted of rape. Zuma accused the media of tarnishing his image and of trying to turn the nation against him.

Meanwhile Stephen Lewis, the United Nations Special envoy on HIV/AIDS, has dismissed an apology by Zuma for having unprotected sex with an HIV positive woman. Lewis says it is too late to undo the damage. Lewis was speaking during the Inter-Parliamentary Union conference in Nairobi.

Lewis said Zuma's action was inexcusable coming from a leader whose country had one of the highest HIV/AIDS infection rates in the world.  

Zuma has said he intends to return to his job as deputy president now that he has been cleared of rape. He faces another criminal trial, however, in the months ahead, this time on corruption charges.