Jacob Zuma

Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa from 2009 to 2018, has been involved in several major legal and ethical controversies. In 2006, Zuma was acquitted of rape charges following a trial that drew significant criticism for his testimony regarding HIV prevention. Zuma faces ongoing charges related to a 1999 arms deal, including 12 counts of fraud, two of corruption, and one each of racketeering and money laundering. These charges involve 783 alleged bribe payments from businessman Schabir Shaik and Thales. After being dropped in 2009, they were reinstated in 2018. His presidency was marked by state capture allegations involving the Gupta family. In 2016, the Constitutional Court ruled he breached the Constitution regarding state-funded upgrades to his Nkandla estate, ordering him to repay public funds. In 2021, Zuma was convicted of contempt of court for defying a summons to testify before the Zondo Commission on state capture, receiving a 15-month prison sentence. He served two months before receiving medical parole, which was later deemed unlawful, followed by a sentence remission in 2023.