Zuma Clings to Power in South Africa Despite Rampant Corruption
On November 10, the South African Parliament voted to keep longtime South African President Jacob Zuma of the African National Congress (ANC) in power despite numerous accusations of corruption. The opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), led the motion to remove the President from power but failed for the third time this year. Corruption is just one of several controversies that have arisen during Zuma’s decade in power. A domestic economic recession, crime rates, poverty, and social inequality have all worsened during Zuma’s tenure. Corruption charges have plagued Zuma’s political career. In 2006, he was acquitted of a rape accusation. Months prior to his 2009 election, Zuma was found innocent after he faced accusations of fraud, corruption and racketeering related to a five billion dollar arms deal. Just last year, Zuma fired two finance ministers within a single week, causing South Africa’s currency value to plummet. Many perceived the move as part of his agenda to to increase his influence over the National Treasury. In March, Zuma was found guilty of using 23 million dollars of public expenditure funding on building a personal estate, equipped with swimming pools and a chicken run.
Zuma now faces an all time-low popularity rating as protests calling for his resignation have erupted across South Africa. All of this turmoil has galvanized frustration from within the ANC. Recently, more than one hundred ANC veterans signed a letter endorsing Pravin Gordhan as party leader, rather than Zuma. Gordhan was one of the finance ministers whom Zuma fired and then accused of corruption. The letter also condemned Zuma’s actions towards Gordhan, stating “We strongly believe the charges are without foundation and clearly show a misuse of state agencies‚ when the NPA and other agencies should be focusing on cases of corruption and the misuse of public funds.” This is one of the first public instances of friction between Zuma and his own party.
Although it is unlikely Zuma will ever resign or be impeached, his souring relations with the ANC could prove threatening to his campaign in the 2019 general election. However, longtime opposition leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi predicts a bleak future for the ANC and South Africa as a whole, saying "A movement that's stood for 104 years is crumbling and taking South Africa with it."