Jacob Zuma
*Jacob Zuma was born on this date in 1942. He is a Black South African politician.
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma was born in Nkandla, Natal Province (now part of the province of KwaZulu-Natal). His father was a policeman who died when Zuma was five, and his mother was a domestic worker. As a child, Zuma constantly moved around Natal Province and the suburbs of Durban. He has two brothers, Michael and Joseph. Zuma is also referred to by his initials, JZ, and his clan name, Msholozi. His middle name, Gedleyihlekisa, means "one who smiles while causing you harm" in Zulu. He received no formal schooling.
Zuma served as Deputy President of South Africa from 1999 to 2005 but was dismissed by President Thabo Mbeki in 2005 after Zuma's financial adviser was convicted of soliciting a bribe for Zuma. He was elected President of the African National Congress (ANC) in December 2007 after defeating Mbeki at the ANC conference in Polokwane. On September 20, 2008, Mbeki announced his resignation after being recalled by the ANC's National Executive Committee. The recall came after South African High Court Judge Christopher Nicholson ruled Mbeki had improperly interfered with the operations of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), including the prosecution of Zuma for corruption. Zuma led the ANC to victory in the 2009 general election and was elected President of South Africa. He was re-elected as ANC leader at the ANC conference in December 2012 by a large majority and remained president of South Africa after the 2014 general election.
Zuma faced significant legal challenges before and during his presidency. Zuma's rule is estimated to have cost the South African economy R1 trillion (approximately US$83 billion). He has also been implicated in reports of state capture through his friendship with the influential Gupta family. He survived multiple motions of no confidence in parliament and within the ANC. Subsequent months saw growing pressure on Zuma to resign as President of South Africa, culminating in the ANC "recalling" him as President of South Africa. Facing a motion of no confidence in parliament, Zuma announced his resignation in February 2018 and was succeeded by Ramaphosa the next day. In October 2019, Ramaphosa stated that corruption under Zuma had cost South Africa more than R500Bn.
