The Presidency on Friday noted the comments made by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa saying he believed Fezekile “Khwezi” Kuzwayo’s rape allegations against President Jacob Zuma.

Ramaphosa made the statement on Thursday evening in an interview with 702’s Karima Brown.

During the interview, Ramaphosa initially said he had to acknowledge the outcome of the court case in 2006, in which Zuma was acquitted, but he said he also had to take heed of what Khwezi said and added that he had sympathy for her.

After Brown put the question to him pointedly, Ramaphosa said he understood how difficult it was for women to come forward with allegations of sexual violence.

"Yes, I would believe her," Ramaphosa added.

The Presidency said that the rape allegations against Zuma were properly considered by a High Court judge.

“Having evaluated the totality of the evidence, the court acquitted the President of the rape charges. The Presidency affirms the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the primary courts as the final arbiters in disputes in society,” the Presidency said.