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| Presidency of Jacob Zuma | |
|---|---|
| Name | Jacob Zuma |
| Office | President of South Africa |
| Term start | 9 May 2009 |
| Term end | 14 February 2018 |
| Predecessor | Kgalema Motlanthe |
| Successor | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Party | African National Congress |
| Birth place | Nkandla |
Presidency of Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma served as President of South Africa from 2009 to 2018, leading the African National Congress during a period marked by shifting alliances, contested policy choices, and intensified scrutiny from opposition parties such as the Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters. His tenure intersected with major national institutions including the Constitutional Court, the Public Protector, and the South African Reserve Bank, while engaging regional bodies like the African Union and multilateral forums such as the BRICS grouping.
Zuma rose through the ranks of the African National Congress and the Umkhonto we Sizwe armed wing during the struggle against apartheid, developing political relationships with figures like Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, and Thabo Mbeki. After serving as Deputy President of South Africa under Thabo Mbeki and surviving high-profile legal proceedings involving the National Prosecuting Authority, Zuma secured the ANC presidency at the 2007 Polokwane conference, defeating Mbeki and positioning himself as the ANC's candidate for head of state. In the 2009 general election, the ANC maintained its parliamentary majority, enabling Zuma to be elected president by the National Assembly on 6 May 2009 and inaugurated on 9 May 2009.
Zuma oversaw initiatives involving state institutions including the Department of Health, Department of Basic Education, and the Department of Public Works. His administration prioritized programs tied to the Reconstruction and Development Programme legacy and new social measures implemented through the South African Social Security Agency. Zuma's tenure encountered tensions with organized labor groups such as the Congress of South African Trade Unions and state-owned enterprises like Eskom, which became focal points for service delivery debates involving municipalities like the City of Johannesburg and provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal. Institutional reforms and appointments involved entities such as the South African Revenue Service and the Independent Electoral Commission.
Economic stewardship under Zuma intersected with fiscal institutions including the South African Reserve Bank and the National Treasury. His administration navigated global trends impacting BRICS partners Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa itself, while domestic outcomes affected credit ratings from agencies such as Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Service. Policy measures focused on industrial strategy and infrastructure investment through state-owned entities like Transnet and Denel, and initiatives addressing unemployment through programs linked to the Small Enterprise Development Agency and investment forums involving the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. South Africa faced growth challenges, currency volatility of the South African rand, and fiscal constraints heightened by mounting liabilities at entities including Eskom and South African Airways.
Zuma's presidency was marred by high-profile controversies, including the Nkandla scandal investigated by the Public Protector and adjudicated by the Constitutional Court, which addressed the use of public funds for upgrades to his private homestead. Allegations of state capture implicated allies such as the Gupta family and prompted parliamentary inquiries including the Zondo Commission formally known as the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture. Legal challenges involved prosecutions pursued by the National Prosecuting Authority and interactions with the Scorpions legacy, while opposition parties like the Democratic Alliance and civil society groups including the Helen Suzman Foundation mounted litigation and advocacy. Media organizations such as the Mail & Guardian and City Press investigated financial arrangements, and key resignations and cabinet reshuffles reflected tensions with figures including Pravin Gordhan, Nhlanhla Nene, and Siphiwe Nyanda.
Zuma's foreign policy engaged regional diplomacy with SADC members like Zimbabwe and Mozambique, multilateral activity in the African Union, and strategic outreach to BRICS partners, hosting the BRICS summit and pursuing ties with China through state visits and bilateral agreements. Relations with Western capitals such as London, Washington, D.C., and Berlin were complicated by human rights critiques from institutions like Amnesty International and geopolitical debates over positions on Sudan and Syria. South Africa's participation in United Nations forums involved interactions with the United Nations Security Council and engagements in peacekeeping discussions relevant to countries including Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic.
Mounting pressure from the African National Congress leadership and a motion of no confidence in the National Assembly culminated in Zuma announcing his resignation on 14 February 2018, succeeded by Cyril Ramaphosa and prompting transitions across ministries including the Ministry of Finance. Subsequent developments included continued legal proceedings before the Constitutional Court and the High Courts, ongoing investigations by the Zondo Commission, and debates within the ANC about internal reform and the party's electoral strategy ahead of later general elections involving the IEC. The post-presidential period saw continued public discourse in media outlets like News24 and activist movements including the Fees Must Fall and Amandla campaigns, reflecting broader civic engagement with accountability and institutional integrity.