Time Magazine described South Africa’s next potential president, Jacob Zuma as an “unabashed populist who revels in traditional African polygamy-he has several wives-and whose massive rallies feature the Zulu anthem Bring Me My Machine Gun.” South Africa’s politics is in great contrast with the American flamboyant and “dig for sleaze” canvassing. Most of the American politicians would conceal any immoral impediment on their character. However, not so in South Africa. It is indeed a jungle; Jacob Zuma displays all his wickedness and parades as king of the Jungle. One would think that this may put-off the majority of voters yet they seem not to be dismayed nor affected by immorality. Below is a “short” timeline of some of his accolades.
June 2005
Sacked by President Thabo Mbeki as South Africa’s deputy president after an outcry over Shaik’s conviction.
October 2005
Charged with corruption.
Weeks later the HIV-positive daughter of a family friend accuses him of rape.
December 2005
Charged with rape.
February 2006
Mr Zuma goes on trial for rape. He denied the charges.
April 2006
Acquitted of rape.
But criticised in the press for his remarks about sex:
- that he knew she wanted to have sex with him because she was wearing a short traditional wrap-around
- that it was against his Zulu culture to turn down a woman
- and that he did not use a condom but took a shower to “protect” against HIV infection.
At the time, he was head of South Africa’s Aids council.
May 2006
ANC votes to reinstate him in his party duties.
September 2006
His corruption trial is struck from the court list when the prosecution asks for yet another delay to gather evidence.
November 2007
The court of appeal opens the way for charges to be brought again when it rules that the seizure by police of incriminating documents from his home and office was legal.
December 2007
ANC elects him as party president ahead of Mr Mbeki in a bitter contest, making him favourite to become South Africa’s next president after elections due in 2009.
Ten days later prosecutors bring new charges of corruption, racketeering and tax evasion
March 2008
Mr Zuma appeals at the Constitutional Court against the legality of the 2005 search and seizure raids of his home and the offices of his lawyer.
He also opposes the state’s request for original documents from Mauritius, including a diary that allegedly holds evidence of key meetings between him and French arms company Thint.
June 2008
Mr Zuma files papers to have his prosecution declared invalid and unconstitutional.
He reveals that if the application fails he would bring a second application for a permanent stay of prosecution.
July 2008
The Constitutional Court rules in favour of the state, that the search and seizure raids of 2005 as well as proceedings instituted by the state to obtain 14 documents in Mauritius were legal.
As a result the prosecution is able to use all the documents.
4 August 2008
Mr Zuma appears at the Pietermaritzburg High Court before Judge Chris Nicholson where his legal team argues that prosecutors did not follow legal procedures in reviving corruption charges in December 2007. [1]
I can only see one benefit for South Africa having Zuma as President that will “hopefully” cause a great divide, separated the stupid from the wise. Thus preventing a one party government. South Africa recently celebrated ten years of democracy. Zuma for President will be as going back to the dark ages or even worse, become like Zimbabwe.
[1] Tuesday, 5 August 2008 13:28 (source BBC website)
Posted by Brendon Naicker 
