Mobile Content Sales to Fund Legal Battle

Jacob Zuma, the controversial South African politician has turned to mobile content to raise funds for his ongoing legal battles. Visitors to the Friends of Jacob Zuma website in South Africa will now be possible to send messages via cellphone to the Messages of Support page at a cost of R3 (US0.41). This page has become a centre for political debate by South Africans who support Mr Zuma.

Through reply messages to the cellphone, users will be kept up to date about latest news and updates to the website.

They are also introducing Mr Zuma's trademark song, "Mshini Wam", as a ringtone. Polyphonic and Monotones can be downloaded at a cost of R5 (US$0.68). The Truetone bearing Mr Zuma's original voice can be downloaded at a cost of R10 (US$1.36).

Cellphone users can download autographed images of Mr Zuma as wallpapers from the photo gallery on the website. If a user downloads more than one wallpaper, they are automatically entered into a draw to win a life-sized, autographed portrait with Msholozi.

Jacob Zuma is a former Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa and current deputy president of the ANC. A popular figure even across political divides, he gained notoriety after his financial advisor, Schabir Shaik, was convicted of corruption and fraud, leading to Zuma's dismissal as deputy president in June 2005. Zuma was formally charged with corruption soon after, but the case was struck from the roll after the prosecution's application for a postponement was dismissed.

In December 2005, he was also charged in the Johannesburg High Court with rape. The accuser, the daughter of a friend of Zuma's during the struggle years against apartheid, was known by Zuma to be HIV positive. On May 8, 2006, the Court dismissed the charges, agreeing that the sexual act in question was consensual. During the trial, Zuma admitted to having unprotected sex with his accuser but claimed that he took a shower afterwards to cut the risk of contracting HIV. This statement has been condemned by the judge, health experts, AIDS activists as well as ridiculed by the public in general."

Posted to the site on 31st October 2006