Publications
Partners
Jacob Zuma has survived six scandals, four or which unfolded after he became president in 2009
October 2005
ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma is indicted and slapped with 700 corruption charges relating to the arms deal. But the KwaZulu-Natal High Court acquits him a few months later, citing political meddling in the case.
Zuma is charged with the rape of an HIV-positive family friend. In May 2006, the court acquitted him. He later told the court that he had taken a shower after the sex, which he believed would reduce the risk of him becoming infected with HIV.
After eight months in office, newspapers revealed that Zuma had
fathered a son with Sonono Khoza, the daughter of his friend and soccer
administrator Irvin Khoza. In February, Zuma apologised to the ANC, its alliance
partners and the country for siring
Sonono’s child.
The Mail & Guardian revealed that massive upgrades, paid for by the public and running into millions of rands, were under way at Zuma’s private residence in Nkandla. A probe by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found that some of the upgrades were not related to security issues. She asked Zuma to pay for those, but he refused. The Economic Freedom Fighters and the DA dragged Zuma to court, arguing that he violated his oath of office and that Madonsela’s remedial actions were binding. This week, the court ruled in favour of the two parties. This scandal has dragged on for five years.
A private jet full of the influential Gupta family’s wedding guests lands at Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria. Zuma was linked to the saga, but in November, Zuma told the National Assembly that he knew nothing about it and had no involvement in the matter. A public servant, Bruce Koloane, took the fall and was later promoted to become an ambassador.
