Jacob Zuma - Articles - Zimbio

Zuma: South Africa's comeback kid

Tue, 28 Nov 2007 03:21:00 GMT

posted by sarfun
Zuma: South Africa's comeback kid

Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is now the clear favourite to become the next leader of the African National Congress, after receiving more nominations than any other candidate.

This would put him in pole position to become South Africa's next president, in elections due in 2009.

And yet just two years ago, his political career was all but written off, when he was battling sleazy allegations of rape and corruption.

But Mr Zuma was acquitted of rape - and the corruption case against him has been put on hold.

His friends say the accusations against him were politically-motivated and it was not long before support rallied again around the ANC's most prominent left-winger.

School of hard knocks

His supporters have never doubted that he had the popular touch. They contrast him to President Thabo Mbeki, seen as rather aloof

He is a man who listens; he doesn't take the approach of an intellectual king", said one unnamed supporter, in an apparent swipe at Mr Mbeki.

Born in 1942 and brought up by his widowed mother in Zululand, Jacob Zuma had no formal schooling.

He joined the ANC at the age of 17, becoming an active member of its military wing, Umkhonto We Sizwe, in 1962.

He was convicted of conspiring to overthrow the apartheid government and was imprisoned for 10 years on the notorious Robben Island.

Mr Zuma subsequently left South Africa, living first in Mozambique, then Zambia as he rose through the ANC ranks to the executive committee, becoming one of the first leaders to return home in 1990 when the ANC was unbanned, to take part in negotiations with the white minority government.

Man of the people

He credits his political awakening to a family member who was an active trade unionist and throughout his political career, Mr Zuma has championed the rights of the people.

His supporters believe the man they call JZ will redistribute South Africa's wealth in favour of the poor.

Yet fears that a potential Zuma candidacy could have a negative influence on the economy and scare off foreign investors appear over-stated.

Business leaders have told the BBC that they are not worried - they have received assurances from Mr Zuma that policy is set by the ANC conference, not the party leader, and he will abide by official party policy.

The female factor

Securing the endorsement of the ANC Women's League - in defiance of an earlier league decision to put forward a female candidate for the party leadership - will have given a great boost to the Zuma campaign.

Some analysts had predicted he would divide the women's vote, with many unwilling to forgive him for the admission that he had unprotected sex with the HIV-positive family friend at the centre of the rape case.

His statement that he showered afterwards to guard against possible infection provoked public criticism and ridicule in equal measure.

The BBC's Mike Wooldridge says his apology appeared to do little to dilute the charge that Mr Zuma's judgement and integrity are questionable.

And yet his popularity is undiminished.

The outcome of the nominations process has been described on the Friends of Jacob Zuma website as having "confounded the analysts, revealing that the media and political commentators are out of touch with sentiment in the ANC."

Proof positive will come from the secret ballot at the ANC conference in Polokwane and if, as now seems likely, Mr Zuma emerges triumphant, then the party's most prominent Zulu will be favourite to succeed Thabo Mbeki as head of state in 2009.

South Africa court blow for Zuma

Wed, 8 Nov 2007 15:22:00 GMT

posted by sarfun
South Africa court blow for Zuma

South Africa's former Deputy President Jacob Zuma could face new corruption charges after a court ruling.
The Supreme Court upheld appeals made by the state against earlier rulings preventing prosecutors from using documents seized from Mr Zuma.

He was sacked in 2005 as deputy leader over an arms deal but graft charges were dropped for lack of evidence.

He is now a frontrunner in leadership elections for the governing African National Congress (ANC) next month.

This post would put him in a strong position to become South Africa's next president in 2009. Mr Zuma is currently the ANC's deputy president.

The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the latest judgements do not mean Mr Zuma will inevitably face trial but they do cast a dark shadow over his campaign to win the presidency of the ruling ANC.

South African prosecutors have welcomed the decision saying a major hurdle preventing them re-open the case has been removed.

Controversial

Two years ago, his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik was found guilty of soliciting a bribe from French arms company Thint in exchange for Mr Zuma's support and is currently serving a 15-year sentence.

Mr Zuma was then put on trial on corruption charges in relation to the 1999 $4bn arms deal, but the case collapsed last year when the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed.

In 2006, a court had ruled that documents obtained during the raids could not be used by prosecutors because the search warrants used by police were illegal.

Mr Zuma also tried to stop them from going to Mauritius to obtain an original diary which allegedly has evidence of key meetings between him and Thint.

In each of four appeals the judges ruled in favour of the state.

Their decision clears the way for prosecutors to continue their enquiries and possibly charge Mr Zuma for a second time.

Last year, Mr Zuma was also acquitted on charges of rape.

ANC divide

The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says despite these cases, the controversial ANC deputy president continues to enjoy political support from trade unions and some influential members of the ruling party.

The rape and corruption cases contributed to a big crack in the ANC resulting in the so-called Zuma and Mbeki camps, our reporter says.

Ever since, there has been a political battle between followers of the two leaders on who should be the party's next chief.

Local media reports that Mr Zuma is in the lead for the top job.

But President Thabo Mbeki has indicated that he will stand for another term as party leader if asked to do so.

Mr Mbeki though, cannot stand for a third term as president in 2009.

Businessmen Tokyo Sexwale and Cyril Ramaphosa may also seek the leadership of the party at ANC's December congress - and would be seen as compromise candidates.

Interpol president on Corruption Charges:Jackie Selebi,

Fri, 12 Jan 2008 19:13:00 GMT

posted by Highplain

South Africa's national police commissioner, who faces charges of corruption and trying to protect a convicted drug smuggler, is to stand down temporarily but will not be sacked.
President Thabo Mbeki said Saturday that Jackie Selebi, who also holds the largely ceremonial post of Interpol president, had been given «extended
leave» with immediate effect.
The National Prosecuting Authority said Friday it would charge Selebi with corruption and defeating the administration of justice because of his «generally corrupt relationship» with Glen Agliotti, who was last year convicted of drug smuggling and stands accused of murder. It said charges would be filed imminently.
Mbeki sought to reassure a nervous public that the government would continue its fight against crime in a country which has more than 50 murders a day.
«Work will go on as normal. The police and all of its ranks will continue with its work as normal,» he told a press conference.
But the news came as a further blow to South Africa's international image. ANC President Jacob Zuma, who hopes to become national president in 2009, is due to go on trial in August on corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering charges.
Selebi tried unsuccessfully to block the indictment against him in Pretoria's High Court on Friday. The judge dismissed it, saying that the administration of justice would be brought into disrepute if Selebi were not prosecuted.
Mbeki said that Timothy Charles Williams, deputy national commissioner for crime intelligence and crime detection, would be acting police chief. He said it was up to Interpol, the world's largest police organization, to decide on Selebi's future. He was due to stand down later this year after his four-year term in office.
Interpol's General Secretariat said it was «carefully monitoring» the situation, and the matter involving Selebi would be discussed at its executive committee meeting in February.
«While it would be inappropriate for Interpol to comment on the ongoing investigation in South Africa, it should be stated that President Selebi has significantly helped the organization and its member countries to enhance security and police co-operation worldwide,» it said in a statement on its web site.
Mbeki's press conference came after a tumultuous week. On Tuesday, armed police arrested Johannesburg's top prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, who led the investigation of Selebi, and hauled him away in handcuffs. Nel is due in court Monday on charges of defeating the ends of justice _ charges that the prosecuting authority says are without foundation.
The turf war between the police and prosecutors also comes at a time when the prosecuting authority _ the equivalent of America's FBI _ is under criticism for its decision to press charges against Zuma.
The ANC congress that elected Zuma last month resolved to disband the prosecuting authority's elite anti-crime unit called the Scorpions _ a decision that risks further weakening the fight against crime.

Police statistics released in December said that there were 8,925 murders and 23,507 reported rapes between April and September last year nationwide _ both down slightly from the previous year. But other crimes like robbery and cash in transit heists have soared.
Prosecutors allege Agliotti gave Selebi cash handouts «as and when he requested,» bought clothes for him and his family and gave him 30,000 rands (US$4,400; ¤3,000) to pay for a dinner in Paris when he was elected head of Interpol. The payments totaled at least 1.2 million rands (US$175,000; ¤118,300) between 2000 and 2005, the prosecuting authority said.
The prosecuting authority also accused Selebi of turning a blind eye to Agliotti's involvement in transporting large quantities of illegal drugs. The prosecutors said Selebi also informed Agliotti that British intelligence authorities were investigating him.
Agliotti reached a plea bargain with prosecutors last year whereby he pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs into the country and received a suspended 10-year prison sentence and a fine. In return, he agreed to testify against drug gangs. There have been reports that he might be the star witness in a trial against Selebi, though prosecutors have not confirmed this.
Mbeki summarily suspended chief prosecutor Vusi Pikoli last September after he issued a warrant for the Selebi's arrest. Acting prosecuting chief Mokotedi Mpshe withdrew the warrant and ordered an independent investigation of the case against Selebi. That probe was conducted by outside legal experts who recommended Selebi be charged.

African National Congress Leader Jacob Zuma An Enigma

Thu, 20 Jun 2008 07:03:51 GMT

posted by fstopsky

Helen Zille, leader of the South African Democratic Alliance party, blasted Jacob Zuma, the candidate for president under the banner of the African National Congress. Ms. Zille charged Zuma was unfit to become president because of his refusal to guarantee the nation he will respect and abide by the South African constitution. She stated there were considerable concerns regarding his views on treatment of HIV/Aids patients, his refusal to guarantee the integrity of the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s right to air controversial programs, the charges he currently is facing regarding alleged corruption, and his failure to support the right of authorities to conduct corruption investigations.

A major concern for Ms. Zille are statements made by Zuma about elections. She challenged him: “Will you publicly acknowledge that all political parties are equally legitimate before the law and that the results of any free and fair elections must be respected?” Ms. Zille termed the ANC leader an “enigma,”

A persistent tragedy for South Africa is that none of its leaders who followed the administration of Nelson Mandela are individuals with that man’s concern for constitutional rights.

Mbeki - Zuma - Quiet Diplomacy

Sat, 23 Dec 2007 23:10:00 GMT

posted by livingzim
Last week Jacob Zuma was elected as the new president of the African National Congress (ANC) ousting President Thabo Mbeki. This I find very interesting as he was recently acquitted of rape charges. I would not have thought that he would have that amount of support with his background. He could very well be the president of South Africa in 2009 when Mbeki has to step down.

South Africa is a country that has been affected by events occurring in their neighbouring country Zimbabwe. On a monthly basis thousands of Zimbabweans illegally make the way to South Africa in search of a better life. In the process they are risking their lives as they cross the crocodile infested Limpopo River which makes up the border between the two countries.

What goes on in Zimbabwe does not only affect the one country but its neighbouring countries. South Africa has had its fair share of people illegally cross their borders in search of ‘greener pastures’. Thousands of Zimbabweans cross into South Africa each month and their government has blamed a lot of their social problems on illegal immigrants. With them thinking that about immigrants one would think that they would do something to curb these problems. An effective way to do that is to get right to the source of the problem and see what can be done to solve it. Zimbabweans are leaving because they are not able to sustain themselves and their families. It cant be that hard to figure out what the root of the problem is in this respect.

Mbeki has been called upon a number of times by the SADC to mediate in Zimbabwe but has adopted a policy of quiet diplomacy. But, what is quiet diplomacy and how does it help? With Zuma now leading the ANC and very much on the way to being the next likely president of South Africa it will be interesting to see what kind of a stance he will take on his neighbours to the north. At his inaugural speech he praised Mugabe’s party ZANU PF and said "I don't think sanctions have produced anything."

Should Zimbabwe be left alone to solve its own problems or should the international community intervene? This is not to say that Mbeki has done nothing, he has been trying to mediate between ZANU PF and MDC.
image courtesy of newzimbabwe.com