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| President Jacob Zuma | |
|---|---|
| Name | Jacob Zuma |
| Birth date | 12 April 1942 |
| Birth place | Nkandla, Natal Province, Union of South Africa |
| 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 |
President Jacob Zuma Jacob Zuma (born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as President of South Africa from 2009 to 2018 and as Deputy President of South Africa from 1999 to 2005. He is a former leader within the African National Congress and a veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle who spent time in exile with the ANC in exile, underwent military training with Mkhonto we Sizwe, and was imprisoned on Robben Island. Zuma's tenure spanned contentious interactions with judicial institutions such as the Constitutional Court of South Africa, high-profile figures including Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, and Cyril Ramaphosa, and major events like the Marikana massacre, the 2008 financial crisis, and the Gupta family controversy.
Zuma was born in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, in the former Union of South Africa to a family of Zulu people heritage and grew up in a rural homestead near Pietermaritzburg and Durban. He attended primary instruction in mission schools influenced by Methodist Church of Southern Africa activities and received informal education through community elders, tribal structures, and political mentorship from figures associated with Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini supporters and ANC veterans. Zuma left formal schooling early, worked as a miner in the Witwatersrand region at operations such as Chamber of Mines-era shafts, and later studied at institutions linked to ANC cadres during exile in countries including Mozambique, Swaziland, and Tanzania where he participated in Moscow-trained military programs and ideological study under influences from African socialism proponents and anti-colonial leaders like Julius Nyerere and Samora Machel.
Zuma joined the African National Congress in the early 1950s era of mass mobilization and became active in the youth structures and clandestine operations of Mkhonto we Sizwe. He rose through ANC ranks during exile working with ANC commissions, liaising with South African Communist Party allies, and engaging with international supporters including Soviet Union contacts and solidarity movements in United Kingdom and Scandinavian countries. After release from Robben Island and return amid negotiations that produced the 1994 South African general election, Zuma was elected to the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress and later appointed to national posts including Deputy President of South Africa under Thabo Mbeki. His eventual rivalry with Mbeki culminated in a high-profile dismissal and facilitated his consolidation of support within ANC provincial structures such as the ANC KwaZulu-Natal and alliances with figures like Tokyo Sexwale, Desmond Tutu (moral critics at times), and business allies in emerging black economic empowerment networks.
Zuma won the ANC presidency at the 52nd National Conference of the African National Congress in Polokwane in 2007 and led the ANC into victory in the 2009 South African general election, becoming President on 9 May 2009. His administration replaced caretaker leadership under Kgalema Motlanthe and preceded the presidency of Cyril Ramaphosa. Zuma's presidency was marked by cabinet reshuffles involving ministers such as Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Pravin Gordhan, and Nhlanhla Nene, tensions with the Public Protector (South Africa) institution led by Thuli Madonsela, and intersected with major events including the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted by South Africa and security responses to incidents like the Marikana massacre. Zuma survived multiple no-confidence motions in the National Assembly of South Africa and faced pressure from ANC internal factions and unions including Congress of South African Trade Unions and National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa.
Zuma's administration prioritized policies tied to Reconstruction and Development Programme legacies and sought to implement measures associated with Black Economic Empowerment and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment frameworks while interacting with statutory institutions including the South African Revenue Service and the National Prosecuting Authority. Governance controversies included allegations of undue influence over appointments, disputes with finance officials such as Trevor Manuel (advisor era), and friction with watchdogs like the Auditor-General of South Africa and the Judicial Service Commission. Zuma pursued initiatives in public infrastructure and rural development affecting regions like KwaZulu-Natal and urban hubs including Johannesburg and Cape Town, while facing criticism from civil society groups such as Corruption Watch and media organizations like the Mail & Guardian and Daily Maverick.
Under Zuma, economic policy responses engaged with global institutions including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank post-2008 crisis, while domestic strategies involved the National Development Plan debates and state interventions via entities like Eskom, Transnet, and South African Airways. Social policy measures targeted service delivery in sectors managed by departments such as the Department of Health (South Africa) and the Department of Basic Education (South Africa), intersecting with public health campaigns referencing HIV/AIDS history that involved figures like Aaron Motsoaledi and controversies from the HIV/AIDS denialism period. Zuma's tenure saw efforts to expand social grants administered through the South African Social Security Agency and housing programs linked to Human Settlements (South Africa), while economic outcomes prompted responses from rating agencies such as Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Service and criticism from business groups including Business Unity South Africa.
Zuma faced long-running legal challenges stemming from allegations including the Arms Deal scandal prosecutions, charges involving the Stalingrad prosecution saga and high court rulings related to suspension of prosecution matters. Major scrutiny concentrated on relationships with the Gupta family and companies like Oakbay Investments and resulted in the establishment of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture (commonly associated with Raymond Zondo). Investigations by the Public Protector (South Africa) produced reports such as "Secure in Comfort" and "State of Capture" that implicated presidential conduct and recommended remedial actions, provoking constitutional litigation at the Constitutional Court of South Africa and parliamentary processes including impeachment discussions in the National Assembly. Zuma was convicted of contempt by the Constitutional Court in 2021 in a later prosecution related to refusal to comply with the Zondo Commission, leading to detention and subsequent legal appeals involving the South African Human Rights Commission and various rights litigators.
Zuma's foreign relations emphasized ties with regional and global actors such as the African Union, BRICS, China, Russia, and United States. He advanced South African engagement in multilateral forums including the United Nations and G20 summits, supported continental initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area precursor discussions, and took positions on conflicts involving entities such as Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe, Libya under Muammar Gaddafi, and Syria in coordination with fellow BRICS members. Bilateral agreements during his term involved energy cooperation with China National Nuclear Corporation negotiations and trade discussions with European Union partners, while diplomatic controversies included alleged influence campaigns by external business networks and debates with leaders such as foreign heads of state over governance and human rights issues.
Category:Presidents of South Africa Category:African National Congress politicians Category:1942 births Category:Living people