Also known as: former South African President Jacob Zuma · President Zuma · President Jacob Zuma · Erstwhile President Jacob Zuma · former President Jacob Zuma · uBaba · Mr Zuma · sitting President of South Africa
Former South African President whose party's 2022 leadership decisions prompted Constitutional Court intervention and subsequent impeachment proceedings against successor Ramaphosa.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Jacob Zuma formed the MK party and led it to third place in last year's elections
“He subsequently formed the MK party and led it to third place in last year's elections.”
Daughter of South Africa's ex-president accuses sister of Russia recruitment plotThe Namibian
Zuma wrote in a letter to Russia's defence minister that sending untrained volunteers into active combat is a certain tragedy
“"Sending these untrained, inexperienced volunteers into active combat is a certain tragedy," Zuma writes.”
Zuma’s MK party accused of sending South Africans to fight in UkraineThe Namibian
Jacob Zuma was called upon to institute a forensic investigation into R70 million allegedly siphoned from MK
“Members of uMkhonto weSizwe's (MK) parliamentary caucus have called on its president, Jacob Zuma, to institute a forensic investigation into R70 million allegedly siphoned from the party.”
Zuma, MKP and the ‘looted’ R70mThe Namibian
Jacob Zuma was given 60 days to repay nearly R29-million in unlawfully used state funds for legal fees
“The Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria has given former President Jacob Zuma 60 days to repay nearly R29-million, plus interest, in state money that was unlawfully used to pay his legal fees and related expenses.”
Zuma faces 60-day deadline to repay state funds unlawfully used for legal costsThe Namibian
Nathi Mthethwa was a close ally of former President Jacob Zuma
“He was a close ally of former President Jacob Zuma and was implicated in what is known in South Africa as the state capture inquiry, which looked into allegations of high-level corruption during Zuma's presidency.”
South Africa's top diplomat in France found dead near Paris hotelThe Namibian
Jacob Zuma's MK party claims received just R2.8-million in private donations before elections
“Jacob Zuma's MK party claims it received just R2.8-million in private donations before the elections.”
Mired in opacity — 10 hard truths about SA’s political party fundingThe Namibian
Jacob Zuma represented party or leader interests as national interest
“As a result, many ANC government decisions, policies and programmes have been partisan and have harmed South Africa's national interest. This has led to a rejection or lack of implementation of many of the party's policies, decisions and programmes. They have been perceived by non-ANC constituencies as patently in the ANC's constituency interest.”
The Challenge of National Interest vs Party InterestsThe Namibian
Jacob Zuma forced African National Congress' decline
“This is so because elections in Africa are seldom about issues, and if they were, then hell, Jacob Zuma would never have racked up those numbers and forced the African National Congress' decline, such as seen recently in Satafrika.”
Gentlemen, Are We Ready For a Petticoat Government?The Namibian
Jacob Zuma had proximity to Dudu Myeni, attributed to her SAA board appointment
“Myeni's appointment was attributed to her proximity to former president Jacob Zuma with no regard for her lack of capabilities to serve on the SAA board.”
The Pitfalls of Public Enterprise Board RecruitmentThe Namibian
Jacob Zuma left behind cabinet of 36 members including deputy ministers
“In 2019, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa inherited a cabinet of 36 – including deputy ministers – from former president Jacob Zuma and reduced it to 28”
African Cabinets Are Too LargeAn opinion piece argues that South Africa's criminal justice system is fundamentally broken and requires a revolution rather than incremental reforms, citing recent leadership failures at the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption and the National Prosecuting Authority.
3 August 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that South Africa's criminal justice system is fundamentally broken and requires a revolution rather than incremental reforms, citing recent leadership failures at the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption and the National Prosecuting Authority.
3 August 2026 · The Namibian →
South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is wielding considerable power as the second-most influential figure in government after President Cyril Ramaphosa, as demonstrated by his decisions at the Public Investment Corporation and actions affecting municipalities. The article notes that a finance minister typically holds more actual authority than other senior officials due to their control over the national budget, and Godongwana has been able to exercise this power with clear presidential backing.
30 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Parliament's impeachment committee voted 14–13 to appeal an interdict halting public proceedings against President Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala forex theft; delays over procedural matters such as appointing evidence leaders and finalising terms of reference suggest a lengthy process ahead if hearings commence.
30 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Netflix's 22-episode series "The Polygamist," released on 12 June, follows a wealthy Johannesburg businessman with multiple wives and a mistress, generating widespread social media discussion across Africa and internationally, with reactions ranging from memes to celebrity tweets.
4 July 2026 · The Namibian →
MK party MP Vusi Shongwe told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that Crime Intelligence officer Feroz Khan offered to "look after" him and a cigarette businessman offered R10m after Shongwe raised issues about Khan in Parliament, which allegedly surprised party leader Jacob Zuma.
1 July 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that anti-immigrant movements in South Africa distract from the real causes of the country's development failures, including state capture and high-level corruption that have cost the government far more in lost public funds than immigration.
29 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Undocumented migrants in South Africa, particularly Malawians, face door-to-door intimidation and violence as protesters have set 30 June as a deadline for them to leave. Up to 7,000 foreigners have gathered in an open field in Durban seeking refuge, with reports of armed South African men attacking residents and threatening deportation.
17 June 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's Constitutional Court has ruled that the National Assembly's December 2022 vote declining to refer an independent panel's report on President Cyril Ramaphosa to an impeachment committee was unconstitutional and invalid, and has now referred the report directly to the impeachment committee. An analyst says the ANC's use of majoritarian tactics to shield Ramaphosa has left the party in crisis ahead of 2026 local elections.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →
A Constitutional Court ruling has forced Parliament to consider impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over allegations concerning US dollars stolen from his home. However, analysis suggests it is unlikely he will be removed from office, as a two-thirds majority of MPs would be required and the ANC's interests appear to align with his remaining in power.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The National Freedom Party has expelled its sole representative in the KZN legislature, Mbali Shinga, after she defied party leadership to vote against a motion of no confidence in Premier Thami Ntuli in December, preventing the MK party from seizing control of the province.
28 April 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's military has been deployed to five provinces to help police combat gang violence and illicit mining. Security experts warn that military deployment rarely delivers lasting results without addressing root causes of crime, and residents express mixed views on whether soldiers will improve safety.
2 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian's analysis of Mosiuoa Lekota, who died on Wednesday, argues that his role in forming the Congress of the People in 2008 was equally vital to his anti-apartheid activism. By breaking the ANC's political dominance, Cope's 1.3 million votes prevented Zuma's government from securing a two-thirds majority, shifted South African politics from racial to policy-based competition, and inspired the formation of other parties including the EFF and ActionSA, fundamentally changing the country's democratic trajectory.
5 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Newly released US Department of Justice records show convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein cultivated extensive ties to South Africa dating to the 1980s, networked with prominent South African businessmen and officials, and used scouts and intermediaries to recruit South African women and girls through modelling opportunities and employment offers.
4 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Released US Justice Department documents show that former South African President Jacob Zuma attended an intimate dinner organised by late sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein at the Ritz Hotel in London on 5 March 2010, during an official state visit to the United Kingdom.
2 February 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini used a derogatory term for African migrants and called for them to leave the country during a speech in KwaZulu-Natal, drawing concern from human rights experts who warn his comments risk encouraging vigilante action against foreigners in a region already marked by anti-migrant tensions.
2 February 2026 · The Namibian →