Jacob Zuma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jacob Zuma
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Zuma in November 2017
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| 4th President of South Africa | |
| In office 9 May 2009 – 14 February 2018 |
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| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Kgalema Motlanthe |
| Succeeded by | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| 13th President of the African National Congress | |
| In office 18 December 2007 – 18 December 2017 |
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| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Thabo Mbeki |
| Succeeded by | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| 3rd Deputy President of South Africa | |
| In office 14 June 1999 – 14 June 2005 |
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| President | Thabo Mbeki |
| Preceded by | Thabo Mbeki |
| Succeeded by | Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka |
| 7th Deputy President of the African National Congress | |
| In office 20 December 1997 – 18 December 2007 |
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| President | Thabo Mbeki |
| Preceded by | Thabo Mbeki |
| Succeeded by | Kgalema Motlanthe |
| National Chairperson of the African National Congress | |
| In office 20 December 1994 – 20 December 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Thabo Mbeki |
| Succeeded by | Mosiuoa Lekota |
| Deputy Secretary-General of the African National Congress | |
| In office 7 July 1991 – 20 December 1994 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Cheryl Carolus |
| President of uMkhonto weSizwe | |
| Assumed office 16 December 2023 |
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| Deputy | John Hlophe |
| Preceded by | New political party |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
12 April 1942 Nkandla, South Africa |
| Political party | uMkhonto weSizwe |
| Other political affiliations |
African National Congress (1959–2024) |
| Spouses |
Gertrude Khumalo
(m. 1973)Kate Mantsho
(m. 1976; died 2000)Nompumelelo Ntuli
(m. 2008)Thobeka Mabhija
(m. 2010)Gloria Ngema
(m. 2012) |
| Children | 20 (estimated), including Duduzile, Duduzane, Gugulethu, and Thuthukile |
| Occupation |
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| Nicknames |
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Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician. He was the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. People also call him JZ or by his clan names Nxamalala and Msholozi. Zuma was an activist against apartheid, which was a system of racial segregation. He was also a member of uMkhonto weSizwe and led the African National Congress (ANC) from 2007 to 2017.
Zuma was born in Nkandla, a rural area in what is now KwaZulu-Natal province. This area is a strong base of support for him. He joined the ANC in 1959 when he was 17. He spent ten years in Robben Island Prison as a political prisoner. In 1975, he went into exile, meaning he left the country to avoid arrest. He later became the head of the ANC's intelligence department.
After the ANC was allowed to operate again in 1990, Zuma quickly became a top leader. He was deputy secretary general in 1991, national chairperson in 1994, and deputy president in 1997. From 1999 to 2005, he served as the Deputy President of South Africa under President Thabo Mbeki. Mbeki removed Zuma from his deputy president role in 2005 due to legal issues involving Zuma's financial advisor. Zuma still kept support within the ANC. This allowed him to become the ANC president in 2007.
Zuma was elected president of South Africa in the 2009 general election. He took office on 9 May. During his time as president, he started a large infrastructure plan. He also signed a nuclear power deal with Russia, which was later stopped by a court. Zuma focused on "radical economic transformation" to help poor South Africans. His government worked on policies like land expropriation without compensation and free higher education. In foreign policy, he focused on working with countries in the Global South. South Africa joining the BRICS group was seen as a big success for him. He also received praise for his approach to HIV/AIDS policy.
Zuma's presidency faced many challenges, especially in his second term. In 2014, a report found that he had improperly benefited from state money used to upgrade his home. A court later ruled that he had not upheld the Constitution. This led to calls for him to resign. There were also many claims that the Gupta family had too much influence over his government, which was called "state capture". In December 2017, Cyril Ramaphosa was elected to replace Zuma as ANC president. The ANC then asked Zuma to resign from the country's presidency. After a vote of no confidence in Parliament, he resigned on 14 February 2018. Ramaphosa became president the next day.
After he resigned, new legal challenges arose for Zuma. In 2018, corruption charges related to a 1999 arms deal were brought against him again. He pleaded not guilty in 2021, and his trial is set for April 2025. In a separate matter, a court found him in contempt of court in 2021. This was because he did not follow a court order to testify before a commission investigating state capture. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison and was arrested on 7 July 2021. He was released on medical parole two months later. In August 2023, his sentence was officially ended.
Contents
Early Life and Activism
Zuma was born in Nkandla, in what was then Natal Province. He moved around Natal and Durban as a child. His father, a policeman, died when Zuma was five. His mother was a domestic worker. Zuma's middle name, Gedleyihlekisa, means "one who smiles while causing you harm" in Zulu. He did not go to formal school.
Fighting Apartheid
Zuma started fighting against apartheid at a young age. He joined the ANC in 1959. In 1962, he became an active member of uMkhonto we Sizwe, the ANC's armed wing. He was arrested that year and sentenced to ten years in prison. He served his time on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela. While in prison, Zuma was a referee for football games organized by the prisoners.
After being released from prison, Zuma helped rebuild ANC structures in Natal. He left South Africa in 1975 and lived in Swaziland and Mozambique. He became a full member of the ANC's National Executive Committee in 1977. He also became head of the ANC's intelligence department in Zambia. Zuma was also a member of the South African Communist Party (SACP) from 1963 until 1990.
Return to South Africa
When the ANC was unbanned in February 1990, Zuma returned to South Africa. He was one of the first ANC leaders to come back for negotiations. He became known as a peace broker in Natal, helping to calm political violence between the ANC and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). He also helped the ANC gain more support among the Zulu community. In 1991, he was elected Deputy Secretary-General of the ANC.
In South Africa's first democratic election in 1994, Zuma was a candidate for premier of KwaZulu-Natal. The ANC won the national elections, but lost KwaZulu-Natal to the IFP. Zuma became a member of the executive council for economic affairs and tourism in KwaZulu-Natal. In 1994, he was elected national chairperson of the ANC.
Rise to the Presidency
Deputy President of South Africa
In December 1997, Zuma was elected deputy president of the ANC. In June 1999, he became the Deputy President of South Africa under President Mbeki. He played a key role in the peace process in Burundi.
In 2002, Zuma faced legal challenges related to a major defence deal. In 2005, President Mbeki removed Zuma from his post as deputy president. This happened after Zuma's financial advisor was found guilty of making improper payments to Zuma. Zuma also resigned as a member of Parliament. His removal led to a strong rivalry between his supporters and Mbeki's.
Becoming ANC President
Even after being removed as national deputy president, Zuma remained the ANC deputy president. His supporters believed his legal issues were part of a political plan against him. He gained strong support from a left-wing group within the ANC and from his large Zulu support base. His court appearances drew large crowds of supporters. He became known for singing the struggle song "Umshini wami" (meaning Bring Me My Machine Gun).
In December 2007, at the ANC's conference in Polokwane, Limpopo, Zuma was elected ANC president. He beat Mbeki in the vote. This made him the ANC's candidate for president of South Africa in the 2009 elections.
Just after he became ANC president, legal charges against Zuma were brought again. However, these charges were later withdrawn in the same week he became national president.
President of South Africa (2009–2018)
The ANC won the national election in April 2009. Zuma was sworn in as president of South Africa on 9 May 2009.
Domestic Policy and Economy
Zuma's government focused on "radical economic transformation" to change the economy to benefit all South Africans, especially the poor. This policy was controversial. Some critics said it lacked real plans, while others claimed it was used to allow improper influence. Zuma said his critics were against economic change.
His administration launched a R4-trillion National Infrastructure Plan. He also supported expanding South Africa's nuclear power programme. His government aimed to increase local ownership in key industries. In 2017, he proposed a national minimum wage. He also supported land expropriation without compensation. In December 2017, he announced that higher education would be free for students from lower-income households.
Social welfare programs expanded under Zuma. His HIV/AIDS policy was praised for helping to increase life expectancy in South Africa. However, critics argued that government debt increased during his presidency.
Foreign Policy and Global Relations
Zuma's foreign policy focused on developing countries and economic diplomacy. South Africa joined the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) in 2010. This was seen as a major success for his government.
His government's stance on international conflicts sometimes differed from Western countries. For example, South Africa voted for UN resolutions on Libya but criticized military intervention there.
Zimbabwe Relations
Zuma took a stronger stance on Zimbabwe than his predecessor, Mbeki. He criticized the Zimbabwean government's actions during the 2008 elections. He called for international sanctions against Zimbabwe to be lifted in 2010. Relations between the two countries remained friendly throughout his presidency.
Challenges and Controversies
At Nelson Mandela's memorial in December 2013, parts of the crowd booed Zuma. This was linked to dissatisfaction with his government and ongoing issues.
Nkandla Homestead Upgrades
Zuma faced controversy over state money used for upgrades to his private home, the Nkandla homestead. A report found that some upgrades were not for security and recommended he repay the state. A court later ruled that Zuma had failed to uphold the Constitution by not following these recommendations. This led to calls for his removal from office.
State Capture Inquiry
There were widespread allegations that the Gupta family, who were close to Zuma, had too much influence over his government. This was called "state capture". An inquiry was launched, which found evidence linking Zuma and other officials to improper relationships with the Gupta family. Zuma later set up the Zondo Commission to investigate these claims.
Cabinet Changes
Zuma was criticized for frequently changing his cabinet ministers. Some of these changes caused concern in financial markets. For example, when he replaced his Finance Minister in 2015, it led to a strong negative reaction.
End of Presidency
As his term neared its end, there was pressure for Zuma to resign. In December 2017, Cyril Ramaphosa was elected to replace Zuma as ANC president. The ANC then asked Zuma to step down as national president. After talks failed, Zuma announced his immediate resignation on 14 February 2018. He said he accepted the ANC's decision but felt he had not been given clear reasons for his recall.
Post-Presidency
After his resignation, Zuma continued to face legal challenges. In March 2018, the corruption charges related to the 1999 arms deal were brought against him again. He pleaded not guilty in 2021, and the trial is ongoing.
Zondo Commission Testimony
The Zondo Commission was set up to investigate corruption and state capture. Zuma was asked to testify before the commission in July 2019. He claimed the commission was part of a long-running plan to harm his reputation. He later stopped cooperating with the commission, saying he felt he was treated unfairly.
Contempt of Court
Because Zuma did not obey a court order to appear before the Zondo Commission, the Constitutional Court found him in contempt of court. In June 2021, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison. He was arrested on 7 July 2021 and taken to Estcourt Correctional Centre. After two months, he was released on medical parole due to health reasons. However, a court later ruled that his parole was unlawful. In August 2023, his sentence was officially ended by the Department of Correctional Services.
uMkhonto we Sizwe Political Party
In December 2023, Zuma announced that he would not campaign for the ANC in the 2024 South African general election. Instead, he would support a new party called uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK Party). He said campaigning for the ANC would be a "betrayal." The ANC suspended him in January 2024 for supporting a rival party. The ANC also tried to challenge the MK Party's registration, but the electoral court ruled it was lawful.
In March 2024, Zuma was banned from running in the 2024 general election. This was due to his 2021 conviction for contempt of court, as South African law does not allow convicted candidates to hold public office. The Constitutional Court confirmed this ruling in May 2024. In July 2024, he was officially expelled from the ANC, after being a member for over 45 years.
Jacob Zuma Foundation
Zuma started the Jacob Zuma Foundation to help children go to school and build homes for people in need.
Personal Life
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Zuma is a polygamist, which means he has been married to more than one person at the same time. This is in line with traditional Zulu culture. He has been married six times and has many children.
Honours and Awards
Honours
| Year | Country | Order | |
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| 2010 |  Cuba |
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Order of José Martí |
| 2010 |  United Kingdom |
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Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (GCB) |
| 2010 |  Zambia |
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Grand Commander of the Order of the Eagle of Zambia |
| 2016 |  Serbia |
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Grand Cross of the Order of the Republic of Serbia |
| 2016 |  Saudi Arabia |
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Collar of the Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud |
Awards and Recognition
- Nelson Mandela Award for Outstanding Leadership (1998)
- Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (2010)
- Imo Merit Award from Nigeria (2017)
Statues
- A statue of Jacob Zuma was unveiled in Imo State, Nigeria, in 2017.
Honorary Degrees
- University of Zululand (2001)
- University of Fort Hare (2001)
- Medical University of Southern Africa (2001)
- University of Zambia (2009)
- Peking University (2012)
Other Honours
- He received a chieftaincy title – the Ochiaga of Imo – in Nigeria in 2017.
Filmography
- The Passion of Jacob Zuma (2009)
- Motherland (2010)
- How to Steal a Country (2019)
See also
In Spanish: Jacob Zuma para niños
- Presidency of Jacob Zuma
- Schabir Shaik trial
- The Spear
- Gupta family
