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| Zuma Presidency | |
|---|---|
| Name | Jacob Zuma |
| Office | President of South Africa |
| Term start | 9 May 2009 |
| Term end | 14 February 2018 |
| Predecessor | Thabo Mbeki |
| Successor | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Party | African National Congress |
| Birth date | 12 April 1942 |
| Birth place | Nkandla |
Zuma Presidency Jacob Zuma served as President of the Republic of South Africa from 2009 to 2018, leading an administration marked by contentious policy shifts, persistent allegations of corruption, and significant regional diplomacy. His tenure intersected with major figures, institutions, and events across Africa, BRICS, and international forums, provoking intense debate within the African National Congress, among opposition parties such as the Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters, and before judicial bodies including the Constitutional Court and the High Court of South Africa.
Zuma rose from activism in uMkhonto we Sizwe and the African National Congress to national leadership after the Polokwane Conference, succeeding Thabo Mbeki as ANC president and later defeating Kgalema Motlanthe in national elections. His ascent followed involvement with the South African Communist Party, connections to leaders like Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo, and legal battles including convictions and appeals heard by the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal. The 2009 general election campaign pitted the ANC against challenges from the Democratic Alliance, the Congress of the People (COPE), and emergent parties, culminating in Zuma's inauguration before the Parliament of South Africa.
Zuma's administration implemented initiatives through ministries such as the Department of Health (South Africa), the Department of Basic Education (South Africa), and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, engaging with leaders like Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Pravin Gordhan, and Blade Nzimande. Policies touched on public sectors overseen by agencies including South African Police Service, Sanlam, and Eskom, and interacted with labour organisations like the Congress of South African Trade Unions and business groups such as the Business Unity South Africa. Governance controversies involved appointments to bodies like the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Judicial Service Commission, and oversight from the Public Protector (South Africa). Parliamentary scrutiny occurred in the National Assembly of South Africa and the National Council of Provinces.
Economic performance under Zuma was debated by economists, investors, and multilateral institutions including the South African Reserve Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. Fiscal policy, budgetary allocations in the National Treasury (South Africa), and decisions affecting state-owned enterprises such as Eskom, Transnet, and South African Airways influenced credit assessments by agencies like Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and Fitch Ratings. Industrial and mining sectors involving Anglo American plc, Sasol, Gold Fields, and the Chamber of Mines navigated regulatory shifts tied to ministers such as Rob Davies and Jabu Moleketi, while labour disputes engaged unions including the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa.
Allegations of corruption centered on procurement, expenditure, and alleged misuse of funds drawn scrutiny from the Public Protector, the National Treasury (South Africa), and investigative media including the Mail & Guardian, the Sunday Times (South Africa), and the Daily Maverick. The Nkandla scandal involved upgrades to Zuma's private homestead and reports by the Public Protector (South Africa) led by Thuli Madonsela, prompting rulings by the Constitutional Court and debates in the Parliamentary Ethics Committee. Key figures in inquiries included Sizwe Nxasana, Dudu Myeni, and former ministers implicated in oversight of expenditure. Opposition parties such as the Democratic Alliance mounted legal challenges, while civil society organisations including Section27 and the Society of Advocates of South Africa campaigned for accountability.
The concept of "state capture" emerged in relation to alleged influence by the Gupta family—notable members Ajay Gupta, Atul Gupta, and Rajesh Gupta—over appointments, contracts, and policy, implicating ministers such as Mzwandile Masina and business figures linked to Oakbay Investments. Investigations by the Public Protector, media houses like News24 and City Press, and testimony before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture (the Zondo Commission) detailed alleged interactions with officials including Siphiwe Nyanda and Tom Moyane. Repercussions involved inspections of state-owned enterprises like Transnet and South African Airways, enforcement by the NPA, and international interest from actors such as Deutsche Bank and Standard Bank.
Zuma's foreign policy engaged with multilateral groupings including BRICS, the African Union, and the Southern African Development Community, and bilateral relations with states like China, India, Russia, United States, and regional partners such as Zimbabwe, Angola, and Mozambique. He participated in summits in cities including Beijing, Brasilia, Moscow, and New Delhi, and worked with counterparts such as Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, and Barack Obama. Regional diplomacy addressed crises involving Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Lesotho, while peacekeeping and mediation efforts involved institutions like the United Nations and the African Union Peace and Security Council.
Mounting pressure from the African National Congress leadership, motions in the National Assembly of South Africa, and internal deliberations involving figures like Cyril Ramaphosa precipitated Zuma's resignation in 2018. Subsequent legal proceedings included prosecutions by the National Prosecuting Authority (South Africa), appeals in the High Court of South Africa, and rulings by the Constitutional Court concerning immunity and accountability. The Zondo Commission hearings and civil society campaigns influenced debates on institutional reform affecting bodies such as the Public Protector (South Africa), the South African Revenue Service, and the Judicial Service Commission. Zuma's legacy is contested among historians, political scientists, and commentators from outlets including The Economist, BBC, and Al Jazeera, and continues to shape discourse in the African National Congress and South African public life.