1. Introduction – A Complex Figure in Modern Africa
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma remains one of the most polarizing figures in South Africa’s post-apartheid history. From humble beginnings in rural KwaZulu-Natal to imprisoned freedom fighter, from deputy president to head of state, and later as a controversial political kingmaker — his journey encapsulates the triumphs, contradictions, and continuing challenges of South Africa’s democratic evolution.
Zuma’s legacy is woven into the broader tapestry of the country’s struggle against apartheid, its tentative post-1994 democratic advances, and the persistent systemic problems — inequality, corruption, political factionalism — that have defined South African politics in the decades that followed. Over four decades after the end of apartheid, Zuma continues to shape political discourse, polarize public opinion, and remain central to ongoing debates over governance, rule of law, and the meaning of liberation in contemporary Africa.
2. Early Life and Political Awakening
2.1 Childhood and Formative Influences
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma was born on 12 April 1942 in Nkandla, a small village in the then Natal province of South Africa. His early years were marked by the hardship of poverty and the loss of his father at a young age — an experience that instilled in him an acute awareness of deprivation endured by black South Africans under apartheid. His mother worked as a domestic worker, and Zuma took odd jobs as a child to help support the family.
Despite lacking formal schooling, Zuma was drawn early to political struggle. In 1959, at just 17 years old, he joined the African National Congress (ANC) — the leading liberation movement fighting apartheid. Zuma’s political consciousness was shaped by powerful figures like Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, and Walter Sisulu, and by the escalating resistance movements of the 1950s and 1960s, including the ANC Youth League and mass campaigns against oppressive apartheid laws.
2.2 Armed Struggle, Imprisonment, and Exile
Zuma’s commitment to liberation took a definitive turn in 1962 when he joined uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the ANC. MK was established after the ANC concluded that non-violent resistance alone could no longer dismantle the apartheid regime. Zuma’s activism made him a target for authorities; in 1963, he was arrested and sentenced to 10 years on Robben Island for conspiring to overthrow the government.
Imprisonment did not dampen his resolve. Upon release in 1973, he intensified underground organizing, recruiting cadres for MK and helping maintain the ANC’s internal resistance networks. Rising suspicion from the apartheid state forced Zuma into exile in 1975, where he continued ANC operations from Swaziland and Mozambique. In exile, his work expanded — he led intelligence operations, helped coordinate guerrilla recruitment, and cemented his position within the ANC’s national executive structures.
3. Return to South Africa and Rise in ANC Politics
3.1 Negotiating Democracy
The early 1990s brought seismic changes. With the unbanning of the ANC and the beginning of formal negotiations to dismantle apartheid, Zuma returned to South Africa, assuming leadership roles in ANC provincial structures. He was deeply involved in facilitating dialogue with the apartheid government and organizing ANC activities during the transition to democracy.
In December 1997, Zuma was elected Deputy President of the ANC, shortly before being appointed Deputy President of South Africa by President Thabo Mbeki in 1999. As deputy president, he became known for his work as mediator on conflict resolution across Africa — especially in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo — and in building relationships across South Africa’s political landscape.
3.2 Leadership of the ANC
In December 2007, Zuma’s political career achieved its culmination within the liberation movement when he was elected President of the ANC, defeating the incumbent Thabo Mbeki. His rise was driven by a combination of grassroots support among the ANC’s traditional base, political rivalries, and positioning as a champion of broader socioeconomic transformation within the party.
This victory positioned him as the ANC’s candidate for national president in the 2009 general elections, which the party won decisively. On 9 May 2009, Zuma was inaugurated as the 4th President of the Republic of South Africa.
4. Presidency (2009–2018): Policies, Politics, and Scandal
4.1 Socioeconomic Vision and Leadership
Zuma’s presidency was framed around themes of transformation: redressing persistent inequalities, expanding access to socioeconomic opportunities, and strengthening South Africa’s role in continental diplomacy. He championed developmental programmes aimed at infrastructure expansion, job creation, and community upliftment — efforts that sought to address enduring legacies of apartheid.
On foreign policy, Zuma worked with regional bodies such as the African Union and the Southern African Development Community, positioning South Africa as an advocate of peaceful resolution in conflicts in Zimbabwe, Libya, and elsewhere.
4.2 Controversies and Criticism
Despite policy initiatives, Zuma’s leadership was overshadowed by a succession of controversies that came to define his presidency:
• Polygamy and Personal Life
Zuma’s personal life — including his practice of polygamy — became emblematic of cultural debate and national conversation. It garnered both support for acknowledging traditional customs and criticism from those who saw it as inconsistent with modern values or feminist principles.
• Corruption Allegations and Arms Deal Charges
The most persistent and damning criticism revolved around corruption allegations. Long before his presidency, Zuma faced accusations linked to a 1999 arms deal, involving alleged illicit payments he received. These charges re-surfaced repeatedly over years, culminating in protracted and highly publicized legal battles.
Zuma’s legal strategy involved appeals and procedural challenges that stalled the prosecution for nearly two decades — making the arms deal case one of the most drawn-out corruption trials in South African history. Prosecutors alleged Zuma received hundreds of unauthorized payments tied to the arms deal, charges he has consistently denied, framing them as politically motivated.
• Nkandla Scandal and Constitutional Crisis
Perhaps the most explosive controversy was over state spending on improvements to Zuma’s Nkandla homestead — his rural home in KwaZulu-Natal. A constitutional court judgment found that the president had violated the constitution by failing to repay public funds used for upgrades — including a swimming pool and private cattle enclosure — that were improperly classified as security improvements. This decision marked a significant judicial check on presidential power, reinforcing the constitutional separation of powers and accountability mechanisms.
These scandals fueled public outrage, diminished confidence, and provided fodder for the opposition. Civil society, business groups, and international observers decried what many saw as a culture of impunity and state capture — in which private interests, including powerful business families, allegedly exerted undue influence over public resources.
4.3 The End of Zuma’s Presidency
Amid mounting pressure within the ANC — a party grappling with factional splits and declining electoral dominance — Zuma was effectively forced to resign. In February 2018, after extended negotiations and internal party directives, he stepped down as president. Cyril Ramaphosa, his deputy and rival faction leader, succeeded him.
Zuma’s departure marked a turning point for the ANC and South African politics. His presidency had catalyzed a fierce public reckoning over corruption, governance, and democratic resilience, leaving a legacy both of transformation aspirations and institutional strain.
5. Post-Presidential Turmoil and Legal Battles
5.1 Return to Courtrooms
Zuma’s post-presidential years have been dominated by legal battles. His long-running arms deal corruption trial persisted long after he left office, repeatedly freezing or slowing political involvement. Legal action has included efforts to challenge the impartiality of prosecutors, appeals of trial processes, and motions to dismiss charges — all of which contributed to the delays that have characterized the case.
In late 2025 and into 2026, these legal controversies remain unresolved. Judges continue to reject Zuma’s and associated parties’ attempts to halt proceedings, reaffirming the judiciary’s determination to see the charges through.
5.2 Orders to Repay State Funds
In late 2025, a Pretoria High Court ruling ordered Zuma to repay 28.9 million rand (about $1.6 million) in legal fees that were improperly paid by the state to cover his personal litigation — including interest. The ruling threatened asset seizures, including his presidential pension, should he fail to comply. Zuma’s legal team appealed the decision, prolonging the financial and reputational strain.
This development was widely covered and became a flashpoint in debates about accountability for former leaders’ use of public resources. Opposition parties hailed the ruling as a victory for judicial independence and protection of taxpayer money, while Zuma’s supporters characterized it as another example of politically driven legal action.
6. New Political Era: uMkhonto weSizwe Party and Opposition Politics
6.1 Break From the ANC
In a dramatic turn reflective of both Zuma’s enduring political influence and broader realignments in South African politics, he became involved with a new political force: the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). Founded in late 2023 and rooted in the legacy of the ANC’s armed wing, the MKP quickly became a vehicle for Zuma’s continued engagement in politics outside the ANC framework.
Zuma was formally elected as MKP’s president in April 2024, cementing his break from the ANC and positioning himself at the helm of a movement designed to challenge the ruling party’s dominance. The ANC responded by expelling Zuma in 2024, citing party discipline and ideological conflict with his opposition activities.
6.2 2024 General Elections and Political Reconfiguration
In the May 2024 general elections, the MKP surprised many by securing a significant share of votes, denying the ANC an outright majority for the first time since 1994. This reshaped the South African political landscape: the ANC entered a Government of National Unity (GNU) with coalition partners, while MKP became a key opposition force.
Zuma’s role in this shift cannot be understated. His charisma, organizational network, and symbolic status as a liberation stalwart appealed to segments of the electorate disillusioned with ANC leadership under Ramaphosa, particularly on issues such as economic stagnation, unemployment, and perceptions of elite corruption.
6.3 Internal Party Struggles and Persisting Legal Challenges
Despite its initial success, the MKP faced internal fractures and challenges during 2025. Leadership disputes, strategic disagreements, and the difficulty of transitioning from opposition rhetoric to cohesive governance strategy tested the party’s coherence. Media reports and political analysts observed that Zuma’s own leadership style — marked by loyalty to close allies and a willingness to tolerate factionalism — compounded these challenges.
Meanwhile, Zuma also pursued legal avenues to reclaim his ANC membership, arguing the 2024 expulsion was unlawful and symbolic of a broader betrayal of the party’s foundational principles. In mid-2025, he launched court applications seeking reinstatement and denouncing ANC leadership for abandoning what he called the “true liberation legacy.”
7. Foreign Engagements and Pan-African Outreach
7.1 Afro-Descendant Event in Burkina Faso
In late 2025, Zuma traveled to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to participate in a Pan-African event celebrating solidarity among African and diasporic communities. The gathering sought to strengthen cultural, intellectual, and economic ties, emphasizing a shared identity and collective empowerment across the African continent and its diaspora. At age 83, Zuma’s presence highlighted his ongoing influence in discussions around Pan-Africanism — a cause rooted in the liberation era and central to post-colonial political thought.
7.2 Morocco Engagements and Diplomatic Tensions
Zuma’s diplomacy took controversial turns as well. Throughout 2025 and into January 2026, he made several high-profile trips to Morocco, including attending the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Rabat. During these visits, he engaged with senior Moroccan officials and publicly supported Morocco’s Western Sahara Autonomy Plan — a position that sharply diverged from South Africa’s longstanding backing of Sahrawi self-determination, thereby drawing criticism from the ANC and other regional actors.
His open endorsement of Morocco’s stance, especially as a leader of a South African political party, raised questions about diplomatic norms and national policy coordination. South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation formally objected to Zuma’s use of the South African flag at private events, reinforcing tensions between Zuma’s personal diplomacy and official state positions.
8. Family Controversies and Broader Impacts
8.1 The 2021 Riots and Legal Aftermath
Jacob Zuma’s political imprint extended to his family — particularly his daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, a national legislator for the MKP. Her prosecution related to the 2021 South African riots — one of the most devastating periods of civil unrest in the nation’s history — underscored the intersection of personal, political, and national fault lines.
Following Zuma’s imprisonment for contempt of court in 2021, widespread unrest erupted, leading to over 350 deaths and massive economic losses. Prosecutors charged Duduzile with inciting violence through social media — the country’s first terrorism-related charges linked to digital communication. She pleaded not guilty and maintained her innocence, with Zuma present to support her at court appearances, reinforcing familial and political solidarity amid crisis.
8.2 Recruitment Allegations and International Controversy
In late 2025, another controversy struck: Duduzile was implicated — and later resigned from parliament — in allegations that she had been involved in recruiting South Africans into Russian military service related to the Ukraine conflict. Reports suggested that men were misled into signing contracts they believed were for bodyguard training, only to find themselves in active conflict zones, prompting a high-profile investigation and diplomatic concern.
This scandal drew international attention not only for its human rights dimensions but for how it intersected with Zuma’s political network, generational influence, and global perceptions of South African political actors.
9. Intellectual Appraisal: Zuma’s Legacy in Context
9.1 Liberation versus Governance
Jacob Zuma’s political life is rooted in struggle and resistance. His participation in the anti-apartheid movement and sacrifices in exile and imprisonment are undisputed aspects of his biography. That legacy, however, is complicated by his performance in office, his use of public office for private advantage, and the governance challenges that accompanied his administration.
Some scholars and supporters frame his leadership as part of a broader liberation tradition — emphasizing solidarity, grassroots representation, and socioeconomic inclusion. Critics counter that his tenure exemplified how liberation movements can falter when transitioning from opposition to governance, succumbing to corruption and failing to tackle structural inequities effectively.
9.2 Institutional Impacts and Democratic Resilience
Zuma’s trials, court rulings, and the constitutional checks placed on his presidency have, paradoxically, highlighted both the fragility and strength of South Africa’s democratic institutions. Court decisions curbing executive power, enforcing accountability, and adjudicating long-running legal battles demonstrate the capacity of independent institutions to pursue rule of law — even when confronting powerful political figures.
Zuma’s continued political involvement — including the creation of a new party, legal efforts against the ANC, and sustained public support among segments of the population — reveals enduring divides within South African society over ideology, identity, and political priorities. These fissures will likely shape the nation’s political landscape for years to come.
10. Conclusion – A Figure of Enduring Influence
Jacob Zuma’s life and career are emblematic of the contradictions of South Africa’s journey from apartheid to democracy. His story encompasses liberation and incarceration, ascent to the highest office and precipitous legal decline, widespread influence and profound controversy.
The Knowledge Base 
Leave a comment