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Jacob Zuma

Jacob Zuma30 posts
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12 Apr, 1942

Jacob Zuma born in Nkandla, South Aftica

Birth0 Comments

Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is born to Gcinamazwi Zuma and Nobhekisisa Bessie in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. His father dies at the end of World War II, after which his mother takes up employment as a domestic worker in Durban. Owing to his deprived childhood, he does not receive any formal schooling. He spends his childhood moving between Zululand and the suburbs of Durban, and by age 15 takes on odd jobs to supplement his mother’s income.

1963

Arrested

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Zuma is arrested with 45 other members of Spear of the nation (Umkhonto we Sizwe) in Zeerus, North West Province, South Africa.

10 year sentence for conspiracy

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Zuma is convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the South African government and sentenced to ten year’s imprisonment, which he serves on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela and other notable ANC leaders. Whilst imprisoned, Zuma serves as a referee for prisoners’ association football games.

2 Jun, 2005

Advisor found guilty

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Shaik, a financial adviser to Zuma is found guilty on two accounts of corruption and one of fraud. He remains free on bail. The judge compares corruption to a cancer subverting democracy and human rights and rejects the defence lawyer’s plea for clemency because Shaik had fought apartheid.

His corporate empire’s progress and prosperity was plainly linked to the possibility that Jacob Zuma would finally ascend to the highest political office…Far from carrying out the object of [South Africa’s liberation] struggle, this whole saga represents a subversion of it…It was a typical example of a privileged treatment to a selected political figure in a situation redolent with lack of transparency and subversive of administrative fairness and integrity. And that is what the law seeks to punish.

14 Jun, 2005

Dismissed as deputy

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President Mbeki dismisses his deputy Zuma. Mbeki:

In the interest of the honourable deputy president, the government, our young democratic system and our country, it would be best to release the honourable Jacob Zuma from his responsibilities as deputy president of the republic and member of the cabinet.

Zuma:

I believe he has taken this decision not because he believes I am guilty of any crime but because of considerations relating to the constraints within which government operates.

8 May, 2006

Rape acquittal

Cleared0 Comments

Zuma is acquitted of raping a 31-year-old family friend on 2 November 2005. In a four-hour ruling broadcast live on radio and television, the judge says the state had not proven the case beyond reasonable doubt. He also refers to evidence given by the defence, suggesting that the complainant has a history of making false accusations of rape.

The complainant was inclined to accuse men of raping her or attempting to rape her

Zuma admitted having had sex with the woman, but insisted it was consensual. The judge says Zuma would not have risked forcing himself on the woman when his own daughter was in the house and police were on guard outside, who would have heard the accused if she had cried out. After the judgement, Zuma addresses a crowd in nearby Beyers Naude Square:

A person who is charged remains innocent until proven otherwise – this is one of the golden rules of our constitution but the press broke this rule. Today the bad dreams have evaporated.

18 Dec, 2007

Elected ANC president

Wins Election0 Comments

Zuma is elected president of the African National Congress at the party’s conference in Polokwane. Mbeki receives 1,505 votes to Zuma’s 2,329. As the announcement of each position is announced, thousands of delegates blow whistles, dance on tables and chairs, and sing and cheer—despite being asked to wait until after the announcement before applauding. Later the celebrations continue with fireworks.

5 Jan, 2008

Zuma, Ntuli marry

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Zuma marries Ntuli at his homestead Nkandla, Kwazulu-Natal. Between 400 and 500 guests attend the ceremony, which lasts three hours. Ntuli is the mother of two of Zuma’s children. Some of the guests are dressed in Zulu traditional attire, carrying shields and Knobkerries.

22 Apr, 2009

Elected president

Wins Election0 Comments

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress wins the country’s election. The ANC receives 65.9% of the vote, the Democratic Alliance 16.66% and the Congress of the People (COPE) – formed by ANC dissidents – 7.42%. The turnout is 77.30%. but the result falls just short of the two-thirds majority needed to make unchallenged changes to the constitution. Zuma claims victory and the outcome is welcomed by ministers in neighboring Zimbabwe as intensifying pressure on President Robert Mugabe.

4 Jan, 2010

Zuma, Madiba marry

Marriage0 Comments

Zuma Madiba marriage ceremonyZuma marries Thobeka Madiba, at a homestead in rural KwaZulu-Natal province. They were meant to marry in 2008 but the wedding was delayed due to Zuma’s government responsibilities. The ceremony includes a hourlong traditional Zulu wedding dance. Madiba performs a solo dance while holding a spear and a shield to symbolize her acceptance of her new husband. Zuma, wearing a skirt made of animal fur pelts and sporting bright white tennis shoes, then joins the dance. The bride and groom wear matching sneakers. 2000 guests dine on traditional Zulu foods, and attendees are told that more than a dozen sheep, goats and cows have been slaughtered for the feast.

8 Oct, 2010

Confirms he is father of Thandekile Matina Zuma

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Zuma confirms that he has had a child, his 20th, with Sonono Khoza, daughter of his old friend and soccer tycoon Irvin Khoza. The child was born October 8, 2009.

I said during World Aids Day that we must all take personal responsibility for our actions. I have done so…I have done the necessary cultural imperatives in a situation of this nature, for example the formal acknowledgement of paternity and responsibility, including the payment of inhlawulo to the family…The matter is now between the two of us, and culturally, between the Zuma and Khoza families.

He also criticizes the media for naming the child:

Both the Child Care Act and the new Children’s Act also provides for the protection of children from exploitation. The naming of the child’s parents has essentially exposed her to the public, which has serious implications in the long-term for her, and amounts to the exploitation referred to in the Act, because the media is making money out of the matter…The media is also in essence questioning the right of the child to exist and fundamentally, her right to life. It is unfortunate that the matter has been handled in this way. I sincerely hope that the media will protect the rights of children.

20 Apr, 2012

Zuma, Ngema marry

Marriage0 Comments

Zuma, Ngema marry imageZuma marries Ngema in a traditional ceremony, known as ‘umgcagco,’ at his rural home. The president’s three existing spouses are among the crowd as he ties the knot with Ngema, a businesswoman with whom he has a seven-year-old son. The couple’s marriage means she will now officially join the presidential household in his home village of Nkandla, where she will live alongside the statesman’s three other wives.

8 Oct, 2012

Nkandla residence controversy

Home purchase/sale0 Comments

NkandlaZuma faces an official investigation over 238 million rand ($19.3m) renovations of his rural private residence in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal province. Upgrades to the residence include a helipad, underground living quarters with about ten air-conditioned rooms, a medical clinic for the president and his family, houses for security staff, air force and police units, underground parking, playgrounds, and a visitors’ centre. Zuma – who shares the property with his four current wives and their children – previously said he would meet most of the bill, but government documents reveal he will pay 5%. Taxpayers already maintain two state residences in Pretoria and Cape Town. The public protector has received several complaints about irregular expenditure on the residence and has begun gathering information which could lead to a full investigation. The civil society group Corruption Watch has also filed questions to the government.