100 Amazing Facts About Jacob Zuma: His Rise, Presidency, Controversies, and Legacy

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Jacob Zuma

Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma – known as JZ, Nxamalala, or simply Msholozi – has lived a life that reads like political fiction: revolutionary beginnings, imprisonment, exile, power, scandal, downfall, and even a late-stage political resurrection. Whether you admire him or criticize him, there’s no denying Zuma’s impact on South African history. Here are 100 intriguing, surprising, and essential facts about the fourth President of South Africa.

Early Life and Background

  1. Born on 12 April 1942 in Nkandla, rural KwaZulu-Natal.
  2. His middle name, “Gedleyihlekisa,” means “one who smiles while causing you harm.”
  3. His father was a policeman who died when Jacob was only five years old.
  4. Zuma never received formal schooling.
  5. His mother worked as a domestic servant.
  6. He has at least three brothers and one sister.
  7. He was raised in poverty and herded cattle as a child.
  8. He joined the African National Congress (ANC) at the age of 17 in 1959.
  9. He joined the ANC’s military wing, uMkhonto we Sizwe, in 1962.
  10. He was arrested in 1963 and imprisoned for 10 years on Robben Island.

Life in Exile and Struggle Credentials

  1. Shared a prison cell block with Nelson Mandela.
  2. After prison, he went into exile in Swaziland, Mozambique, and Zambia.
  3. He became Head of ANC Intelligence in the 1980s.
  4. He was once the ANC Chief Representative in Mozambique.
  5. He was expelled from Mozambique after the Nkomati Accord.
  6. Zuma was a member of the South African Communist Party (SACP).
  7. He served on the ANC’s Politico-Military Council.
  8. He rose to become a member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee in 1977.
  9. He played a key role in rebuilding ANC underground structures inside South Africa.
  10. Returned to South Africa in 1990 after the ANC was unbanned.

Political Ascent

  1. Elected ANC Deputy Secretary-General in 1991.
  2. Became ANC National Chairperson in 1994.
  3. Served as a Member of the Executive Council in KwaZulu-Natal.
  4. Elected ANC Deputy President in 1997.
  5. Became Deputy President of South Africa in 1999 under Thabo Mbeki.
  6. Led peace negotiations in Burundi.
  7. His rise coincided with growing support from the ANC’s left-wing factions.

Legal and Personal Controversies

  1. Dismissed by President Mbeki in 2005 after Schabir Shaik’s corruption conviction.
  2. Charged with corruption, fraud, money laundering, and racketeering multiple times.
  3. Was also charged with rape in 2005, and acquitted in 2006.
  4. His rape trial included controversial testimony about “taking a shower” to prevent HIV.
  5. The “showerhead” became a satirical symbol, popularized by cartoonist Zapiro.
  6. Faced widespread backlash for singing “Umshini Wami” (Bring Me My Machine Gun) at rallies.
  7. Claimed the rape charges and corruption cases were politically motivated.
  8. Filed multiple lawsuits against media outlets, including over R70 million in defamation claims.

Presidency (2009–2018)

  1. Elected ANC president in 2007, defeating Mbeki.
  2. Elected President of South Africa in 2009 and re-elected in 2014.
  3. Promised continuity and change in his first campaign.
  4. Launched the R4-trillion National Infrastructure Plan.
  5. Oversaw South Africa’s accession to BRICS in 2010.
  6. Established the National Planning Commission.
  7. Introduced the National Development Plan (NDP).
  8. Expanded access to antiretroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS.
  9. Declared free higher education in December 2017.
  10. Advocated for Radical Economic Transformation (RET) during his second term.

State Capture & Governance Failures

  1. His administration became synonymous with “state capture.”
  2. Accused of allowing the Gupta family to influence government appointments.
  3. The Guptas landed a plane at Waterkloof Air Force Base in 2013, sparking scandal.
  4. Zuma’s ties with the Guptas were mocked with the nickname “Zupta.”
  5. The Public Protector’s report “State of Capture” implicated him heavily.
  6. Established the Zondo Commission in January 2018.
  7. Walked out of the Zondo Commission in 2020.
  8. Was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court in 2021.
  9. His arrest sparked deadly riots in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
  10. Released on medical parole just two months later.

Nkandla Scandal

  1. Zuma’s private Nkandla homestead was upgraded with state funds.
  2. Features included a swimming pool, amphitheatre, cattle kraal, and visitors’ centre.
  3. The Public Protector ruled in 2014 that Zuma unduly benefited.
  4. The Constitutional Court found he violated the Constitution in 2016.
  5. He repaid the state following the court ruling.
  6. Opposition parties called for his impeachment.

Cabinet Drama

  1. Oversaw over 12 cabinet reshuffles during his presidency.
  2. Fired Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene in 2015, triggering a market crash.
  3. Appointed Des van Rooyen for four days before replacing him with Pravin Gordhan.
  4. Fired Gordhan again in 2017, sparking national protests.
  5. These events led to a major loss of trust from investors.

Stepping Down

  1. Defeated by Cyril Ramaphosa in the ANC’s 2017 presidential election.
  2. Recalled by the ANC National Executive Committee in February 2018.
  3. Resigned on 14 February 2018 with immediate effect.
  4. Claimed he was a “disciplined member” of the ANC in his resignation speech.

Post-Presidency and Legal Issues

  1. Faces ongoing corruption trial related to the Arms Deal.
  2. Pleaded not guilty in 2021; trial continues as of 2025.
  3. Was granted remission of his sentence in 2023.
  4. Was barred from contesting elections in 2024 by the Constitutional Court.
  5. Formed the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party in 2023.
  6. Expelled from the ANC in July 2024 for campaigning against it.
  7. His daughter Nomcebo Zuma became engaged to King Mswati III in 2024.

Family & Personal Life

  1. Zuma is a proud Zulu traditionalist.
  2. He is a polygamist with six known wives and over 20 children.
  3. His former wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is a prominent ANC politician.
  4. He fathered a child with soccer boss Irvin Khoza’s daughter.
  5. Paid inhlawulo for fathering a child out of wedlock in 2009.
  6. Has been engaged multiple times, including to Swazi royalty.
  7. One of his sons, Duduzane Zuma, is a controversial businessman.
  8. He founded the Jacob Zuma Foundation to support education.

Public Image and Legacy

  1. Known for his charisma, humour, and singing at public events.
  2. Regularly sang “Umshini Wami” at political rallies.
  3. Dubbed “The Laughing President” for his infectious laugh.
  4. Known for using Zulu idioms and being relatable to rural voters.
  5. Widely parodied in media, especially by cartoonist Zapiro.
  6. Remains popular among parts of the electorate, especially in KZN.
  7. Was the subject of the controversial painting “The Spear.”
  8. Has a statue in Nigeria’s Imo State.
  9. Known for evading accountability through legal and political manoeuvring.
  10. Described as both a populist and political chameleon.

Awards & Recognition

  1. Received the Order of José Martí (Cuba, 2010).
  2. Granted honorary doctorates from multiple universities.
  3. Named Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (UK, 2010).
  4. Honoured with the Imo Merit Award in Nigeria (2017).
  5. Despite controversies, he remains one of South Africa’s most influential post-apartheid figures.

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