Jacob Zuma

Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is a South African politician who served as the president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He was born on 12 April 1942 in the rural region of Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal province. Zuma joined the African National Congress (ANC) at the age of 17 in 1959 and spent ten years in Robben Island Prison as a political prisoner. He went into exile in 1975 and was ultimately appointed head of the ANC's intelligence department. After the ANC was unbanned in 1990, he quickly rose through the party's national leadership and became deputy president in 1997. Zuma was the deputy president of South Africa from 1999 to 2005 under President Thabo Mbeki. He was elected president of South Africa in the 2009 general election and took office on 9 May. The criminal charges against him were formally withdrawn the same week. As president, he launched the R4-trillion National Infrastructure Plan and signed a controversial nuclear power deal with the Russian government, which was blocked by the Western Cape High Court in 2017. Zuma's presidency was beset by controversy, especially during his second term. In 2014, the Public Protector found that Zuma had improperly benefited from state expenditure on upgrades to his Nkandla homestead, and in 2016, the Constitutional Court ruled that Zuma had failed to uphold the Constitution, leading to calls for his resignation and a failed impeachment attempt in the National Assembly. By early 2016, there were also widespread allegations, later investigated by the Zondo Commission, that the Gupta family had acquired immense corrupt influence over Zuma's administration, amounting to state capture. Several weeks after Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was elected to succeed Zuma as ANC president in December 2017, the ANC National Executive Committee recalled Zuma. After a fifth vote of no confidence in Parliament, he resigned on 14 February 2018 and was replaced by Ramaphosa the next day. Shortly after his resignation, on 16 March 2018, the National Prosecuting Authority announced that it would reinstate corruption charges against Zuma in relation to the 1999 Arms Deal. He pleaded not guilty on 26 May 2021, but the trial was not scheduled to take place until early 2023. The trial has since been set for April 2025. In a separate matter, in June 2021, the Constitutional Court convicted Zuma of contempt of court for his failure to comply with a court order compelling his testimony before the Zondo Commission. He was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment and was arrested on 7 July 2021 in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal. However, he was released on medical parole two months later on 5 September. The high court rescinded his parole on 15 December. The parole was declared unlawful by the Supreme Court of Appeal, but it allowed the Department of Correctional Services to consider whether to deduct the time spent under it from his sentence. On 11 August 2023, the Department of Correctional Services granted Zuma remission of his 15-month sentence. Recently, Zuma has been mentioned in Epstein emails over a London dinner plan and has been involved in internal chaos within his MK party. He has also disbanded the MK Party high command ahead of the 2026 polls. Zuma's name has appeared in the latest Epstein files, and he has been condemned for his 'Stalingrad defence' in the arms deal trial.

Jacob Zuma's presidency was marked by controversy and allegations of corruption. His administration was accused of state capture, and he was eventually recalled by the ANC National Executive Committee. Zuma's legacy is complex, with some praising his efforts to promote radical economic transformation and others criticizing his handling of the economy and his personal scandals. His recent involvement in internal chaos within his MK party and his mention in Epstein emails have raised further questions about his character and leadership. Zuma's name has become synonymous with controversy and scandal in South African politics.