Jacob Zuma

After an earlier decision found the state's payment of Zuma's personal legal fees connected with his prosecutions and related litigation to be invalid, the Presidency and the State Attorney sought enforcement of repayment. On 22 October 2025, the Pretoria High Court ordered Zuma to pay 28 960 774,34 rands, plus interest and costs.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Zuma announced that he would support the new uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party against the ANC, while initially maintaining that he remained a member of the ANC. Becoming the public face and leader of MK, he contributed to its result of approximately 15% of the vote in 2024, a major factor in the ANC's loss of its absolute majority. The ANC subsequently expelled him for actively working to remove his own party from power.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Zuma instituted a private prosecution against prosecutor Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan, alleging unlawful disclosure of medical information during his corruption trial. A three-judge bench set aside the summonses, prohibited prosecution on the same grounds and ordered Zuma to pay punitive costs; the courts characterised the proceedings as an abuse of process pursued for an ulterior purpose.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Zuma attempted to prosecute President Cyril Ramaphosa privately, accusing him, among other things, of being an accessory after the fact in the disclosure of his medical certificate by Billy Downer and Karyn Maughan. The High Court set aside the summonses and declared the prosecution unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The various parts of the Zondo Commission's final report described systemic state capture during Zuma's presidency and made numerous findings concerning his relationships with the Guptas, his role in certain appointments, his conduct towards state-owned enterprises and his failure to protect institutions from private interests. The report recommended or contemplated investigations and prosecutions in several areas.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Zuma sought to have the Public Protector's remedial measure requiring him to establish a judicial commission on state capture set aside. In December 2017, the High Court dismissed his application, upheld the commission mechanism and ordered him personally to pay part of the costs, criticising the unreasonableness of his approach. In January 2018, Zuma eventually established the commission chaired by Judge Raymond Zondo.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Following a long accumulation of controversies, and after the ANC had elected Cyril Ramaphosa as its leader, the ANC National Executive Committee recalled Zuma in February 2018. The parliamentary caucus was preparing to support a motion of no confidence if he refused to leave. On 14 February, Zuma announced his resignation with immediate effect.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Zuma dismissed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in a cabinet reshuffle in late March 2017. S&P subsequently downgraded the sovereign credit rating to speculative grade, citing leadership changes and the risk of policy shifts; the dismissal also triggered opposition within the ANC and another fall in South African assets.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Hundreds of millions of rands in public funds were spent on security works at Zuma's private residence in Nkandla, some elements of which were considered unrelated to security. The Public Protector ordered him to repay a reasonable proportion of these benefits. Zuma and the parliamentary majority initially supported a different approach, leading to major constitutional litigation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The Public Protector's "State of Capture" report examined allegations of improper and unethical conduct by Zuma, public officials and the Gupta family, particularly concerning ministerial and state-owned enterprise appointments and contractual benefits. It recommended a more extensive judicial commission of inquiry.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Political responsibility

During the 2015 African Union summit, the South African government did not arrest Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, who was wanted by the ICC, and he left the country despite a High Court order prohibiting his departure pending the ruling on his arrest. The High Court declared the failure to arrest him unconstitutional and invalid.

State of the evidence

Documented

On 9 December 2015, Zuma dismissed Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene without a detailed explanation and replaced him with the little-known David van Rooyen. The rand fell to record lows, markets and bonds deteriorated sharply, and the decision provoked a political and economic crisis. Four days later, Zuma replaced van Rooyen with former minister Pravin Gordhan.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Zuma appointed Menzi Simelane National Director of Public Prosecutions in November 2009 despite critical findings from the Ginwala Commission concerning his integrity and conduct. The appointment was challenged as irrational in light of the requirement that the head of the prosecution service be a "fit and proper" person.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

At the trial of his financial adviser Schabir Shaik, the courts found that between 1996 and 2002 Shaik and Zuma had maintained what the court described as a "generally corrupt relationship": frequent payments benefiting Zuma and political interventions by Zuma benefiting Shaik's interests. The Supreme Court of Appeal reiterated this finding in 2006.

State of the evidence

Documented

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Zuma was tried for the rape of an HIV-positive woman close to his family. He acknowledged sexual intercourse but maintained that it was consensual. On 8 May 2006, the High Court acquitted him, with the judge concluding that consensual intercourse had taken place. His testimony that he had showered after intercourse believing this would reduce the risk of contracting HIV sparked nationwide controversy, given his former role in AIDS policy.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

President Thabo Mbeki removed Zuma from his position as South Africa's deputy president in June 2005 following Schabir Shaik's corruption conviction and judicial findings describing the relationship between the two men. The decision triggered an internal ANC political crisis and fuelled Zuma's claim that he was the target of a political operation.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist is the victim