Elected, accused of corruption, fired, accused of rape, acquitted, elected president, accused of corruption again, denied again, ousted, imprisoned for contempt of court, freed, barred from becoming an MP. For most politicians, almost any of these challenges would have proved fatal to their career. However, not for South Africa’s Jacob Zuma.
Like a resolute prize-fighter, the 82-year-old former president may have been knocked down on numerous occasions, but he has never been knocked out. During the recent election campaign, Jacob Zuma performed his familiar dance, and the results of last week’s vote demonstrate that he still wields significant influence. Leading a new party that took on the African National Congress (ANC), Jacob Zuma secured 15% of the vote, a result that has been humiliating for the ANC. The party, which Jacob Zuma once led, lost its outright parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years, partly due to what has been dubbed the “Zuma tsunami.”
In Durban, the main city in KwaZulu-Natal province, Jacob Zuma’s smiling face beams down from virtually every street lamp on green-and-black election posters of his recently formed party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) or Spear of the Nation. Jacob Zuma’s exalted status in his heartland, where he is respected for upholding his cultural and traditional Zulu beliefs, remains evident. He is also lauded for his role as a peace broker during political violence in the early 1990s, which almost derailed the country’s transition to democracy. Over 20 years ago, he was credited with bringing voters in KwaZulu-Natal from the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party to the ANC.
The launch of MK’s manifesto a week before the 29 May election at a packed 40,000-seater stadium was a clear signal that “uBaba” (father), as Zuma is known, was back. His supporters, braving the scorching heat, chanted, “Zuma! Zuma!” One shouted, “Uyinsizwa nxamala,” which loosely translates from Zulu as “a fearless warrior who never backs down.”
On election day, Jacob Zuma arrived at his polling station, a modestly built primary school without flushing toilets, greeted by hundreds of people calling out his clan names: “Msholozi, Nxamalala, Maphum’ephethe.” After voting, his supporters sang a pro-Zuma song in Zulu, made popular several years ago when Jacob Zuma was accused of corruption. The refrain translates to: “What has Zuma done? You’re influenced by propaganda from so-called white monopoly capital.”
While many politicians can rely on a loyal core of backers, Jacob Zuma’s ability to genuinely connect with the poor and marginalized sets him apart. This may explain his enduring popularity despite numerous scandals and damning accusations. Six years ago, it seemed his luck had finally run out when he was forced from the presidency following a litany of corruption allegations, which he denied. Cyril Ramaphosa replaced him as president, and Jacob Zuma became a political pariah and a damaged brand.
Then, three years ago, Jacob Zuma’s situation worsened: he was sent to jail for contempt of court for failing to testify at a judicial investigation into corruption during his nine-year term as president. His arrest in July 2021 sparked the deadliest riots since the end of white-minority rule in 1994, leading to the deaths of more than 300 people. Sentenced to 15 months, Zuma was released by President Ramaphosa after serving only three, in an attempt to placate him and his supporters.
Recently, Jacob Zuma faced another setback when he was legally barred from standing as a member of parliament due to his conviction. However, this did not seem to matter to voters, and his ability to outsmart political opponents was evident, acknowledged by the ANC. “Jacob Zuma is a force to be reckoned with in South African politics… we never underestimated him,” admitted ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, reflecting on his party’s dismal performance.
Despite his suspension from the ANC, Jacob Zuma remains a member of the party that ended apartheid. With no formal schooling and a modest upbringing, his anti-apartheid activism saw him jailed for 10 years at the notorious Robben Island prison alongside Nelson Mandela. After the ANC’s ban was lifted in 1990, Jacob Zuma returned from exile and rose through the party’s ranks, becoming deputy president in 1999. In 2005, he was implicated in a corruption scandal involving a 1999 arms deal and was fired by then-President Thabo Mbeki. This case continues to drag on, and he still faces charges over the multi-billion-dollar scandal.
In December 2005, Jacob Zuma was accused of raping the daughter of a party comrade. He admitted to having sex with the woman, who was HIV positive, but claimed the encounter was consensual. Jacob Zuma invited ridicule when he said he had taken a shower after sex to prevent HIV transmission, believing that a healthy man was unlikely to catch HIV from a woman. He was acquitted of rape the following year.
Jacob Zuma fought his way back to the top of the ANC and became president in 2009, remaining in the role until 2018, when he was forced to resign after intense pressure from his party. This followed allegations of “state capture,” where he allegedly allowed the Gupta family to wield massive political influence. Jacob Zuma and the Gupta brothers have dismissed these allegations as fabrications.
Jacob Zuma and his supporters blame his successor, Ramaphosa, for his downfall. Now, Jacob Zuma might seek to settle scores with his rival. With coalition talks underway, the MK party has made it clear it will only partner with the ANC if Ramaphosa resigns. Buoyed by his party’s performance, Jacob Zuma alleged electoral irregularities on Saturday, stating, “Nobody must declare results, don’t provoke us, don’t start trouble,” on the eve of the final election results announcement. The electoral commission strongly denied these allegations, and police are on alert for potential unrest following Jacob Zuma’s comments.
Despite the acrimonious situation, the ANC has not ruled out a coalition with the MK party. “We are talking to everybody who is prepared to form a government with us,” Mbalula said. This situation underscores Jacob Zuma’s remarkable ability to remain a significant force in South African politics.
