Former South Africa leader Zuma promises jobs and free education as he launches party manifesto
Former South African President Jacob Zuma has lamented the high levels of poverty among black South Africans and promised to create jobs and tackle crime as he launched his new political partyโs manifesto ahead of the countryโs much anticipated elections.
South Africa braces for what may be a milestone election. Here is a guide to the main players
After 30 years of dominating South African politics, the ruling African National Congress will face its toughest election this month as most opinion polls predict it will lose its parliamentary majority for the first time.
A South African court overturns ban, rules that former leader Jacob Zuma can run in the election
South Africaโs Electoral Court has ruled that former President Jacob Zuma can run for office in the upcoming general election, overturning an earlier decision that had barred him from contesting the polls.
South Africa's ANC launches election manifesto as president highlights party's achievements
South Africaโs President Cyril Ramaphosa has highlighted the achievements of his ruling African National Congress, which has ruled the country for all of its 30 years of democracy, as it heads into a tight race in Mayโs election.
South African ex-President Jacob Zuma has denounced the ANC and pledged to vote for a new party
Former South African President Jacob Zuma has denounced the governing African National Congress party and announced that he will vote for a newly-formed political formation in the countryโs general election next year.
EXPLAINER: The scandal engulfing South Africa's president
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa could face criminal charges and is already facing calls to step down over claims that he tried to cover up the theft of millions of dollars in U.S. currency that was hidden inside furniture at his game farm.
South African president grilled in Parliament on farm theft
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was confronted in Parliament Thursday by opposition politicians who pressed him to step down from office pending a criminal investigation into allegations that he covered up a theft from his rural game farm.
Dubai arrests 2 Gupta brothers over South African fraud case
Dubai police say they have arrested two brothers from the Gupta family wanted in connection with a corruption case involving former South African President Jacob Zuma, the latest high-profile extradition case involving the United Arab Emirates.
Another report alleges corruption by ex-South African leader
Another damning report into government corruption in South Africa has recommended further investigations and the possible prosecution of former President Jacob Zuma for allegedly receiving bribes to influence the awarding of state contracts.
Corruption trial of South Africa's ex-president is postponed
The corruption trial of former South African president Jacob Zuma, who is currently in prison, has been postponed to August 10 while it is decided whether he must be physically present in the courtroom or can appear via video from where he is in detention.
South African court orders ex-president to jail for contempt
South Africaโs former President Jacob Zuma has been found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to 15 months in prison for defying a court order to appear before an inquiry probing wide-ranging allegations of corruption during his tenure from 2009 to 2018.
South Africa's ex-president Jacob Zuma must pay legal fees
Former South African president Jacob Zuma has been denied state funding for for his legal fees in an upcoming corruption trial and has been ordered to pay back an estimated $2 million in lawyersโ charges that he has received over the years.
South Africa's ex-president should be jailed, argues lawyer
JOHANNESBURG โ Lawyers for a commission investigating corruption in South Africa have asked the countryโs highest court to jail former president Jacob Zuma for two years for failing to cooperate with its probe. For this contempt of court, Zuma should be convicted and sentenced to two years in prison, Tembeka Nqcukaitobi, a lawyer for the commission, argued Thursday at the Constitutional Court. As a former head of state, Zuma has a duty to abide by the constitution, said Nqcukaitobi. The judges of the constitutional court said they will deliberate on the matter and deliver a decision, but they did not specify when. About 20 of Zumaโs supporters braved rain in Johannesburg on Thursday to demonstrate in front of the Constitutional Court to show their unwavering support for him.
South Africa's Zulu king is buried amid praise, controversy
Prince Mbonisi Zulu attends the memorial service for his brother Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, in Nongoma, South Africa, Thursday, March 18, 2021. (AP Photo/PhilL Magakoe)JOHANNESBURG โ The traditional leader of South Africaโs 12 million Zulu people, King Goodwill Zwelithini, has been laid to rest in a private ceremony early Thursday. Reigning for more than 50 years, Zwelithini was the longest-serving monarch of the Zulu nation, the largest ethnic group of South Africa's 60 million people. Historically, the Zulu nation gave early resistance to British colonialism under the leadership of King Shaka Zulu from 1816 to 1828. Zwelithini was a proponent of traditional Zulu customs and the most influential of South African traditional leaders, who do not hold political office but have considerable influence, especially among South Africa's rural people.
Hope that South Africa's COVID-19 corruption inspires action
(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, file)CAPE TOWN โ There's some hope in South Africa that this time the outrage against corruption inspires effective action. The new charges of the misuse of public money earmarked to fight the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to be a turning point, say those experts. AdIt would be shocking, corruption experts say, if graft hadn't already been deeply entrenched in South Africa. โI get the outrage but not the surprise," said David Lewis, executive director of Corruption Watch in South Africa. South Africa was in recession even before the devastating effects of the virus.
South Africa's Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini dies, aged 72
(AP Photo/File)JOHANNESBURG โ King Goodwill Zwelithini, the traditional leader of South Africa's Zulu nation, has died aged 72 after being hospitalized for more than a month, his family announced Friday. Zwelithini, the eighth Zulu king, reigned for more than 50 years, making him the longest-serving Zulu monarch. King Zwelithini was an outspoken critic of the governmentโs planned land redistribution policy, which could affect large tracts of land belonging to the Zulu nation. Opposition politicians also expressed their condolences to the Zulu nation. โOur heartfelt condolences go out to his family, the Royal House and the Zulu nation in this time of loss.
South African ex-president's corruption trial set for May
A South African judge said he will file a criminal complaint against former South African president Jacob Zuma after he staged a dramatic walkout while attending a commission of inquiry looking into corruption during his tenure from 2009 to 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)JOHANNESBURG โ Former South African president Jacob Zumaโs corruption trial is set to begin in May, more than 16 years after he was first implicated in the graft allegations. Zuma, South Africa's president from 2009 to 2018, is accused of receiving bribes from French arms manufacturer Thales. Both Zuma and Thales deny the charges against them, which include corruption, fraud, racketeering, and money laundering. Zuma's trial and the order for him to appear before a judicial inquiry into graft are seen as tests of President Cyril Rampahosa's campaign against corruption.
South Africa's president fights own party over corruption
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrives at a hospital in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, to receive a Johnson and Johnson vaccine. It's in defiance of Ramaphosa and ANC policy that officials facing corruption charges should step aside until their criminal cases are finalized. Iโll prove (it) in court," Magashule said outside the courthouse, where people wearing green and yellow ANC T-shirts gathered in support of him. Both Zuma and Magashule have challenged Ramaphosa since he replaced Zuma as ANC leader in 2017 and became South Africa's president in 2018. AdThat scandal further angered South Africans who have been inundated with allegations of high-level corruption during the state corruption commission, which is probing Zuma's time as president from 2009-18.
South Africa's former president is warned to appear in court
(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe/File)JOHANNESBURG โ A legal showdown is looming in South Africa where former president Jacob Zuma is refusing to obey court orders to testify at a judicial inquiry into corruption charges against him. Zuma has been warned that he is not above the law after he publicly stated that he intends to defy a court order to appear at the inquiry. It is a test of whether President Cyril Ramaphosa will be able to follow up on his promises to take decisive action against pervasive corruption. President Zuma is a South African. AdZondo warned Zuma of further action against him if he refuses to abide by an order of the Constitutional Court to testify at the commission.
South African ruling party official charged with corruption
Magashule is charged in connection with the looting of $13.8 million when he was premier of the Free State province from 2009 until 2018. (AP Photo)JOHANNESBURG โ A top official of South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress, has been charged with 21 counts of fraud and corruption, a significant step in President Cyril Ramaphosa's drive against graft in the country. He was cheered by hundreds of supporters who gathered outside the courthouse, showing that many within the ruling party do not support the anti-corruption campaign. This demonstration was despite the partyโs call that people should only support Magashule as individuals, not under the banner of the party. The demonstration to support Magashule shows that there are many within the ANC who do not support Ramaphosa's anti-corruption drive.
South African president grilled over COVID-19 graft scandals
JOHANNESBURG South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday faced tough questioning by lawmakers over COVID-19 corruption scandals, days after he asked ruling party members to refrain from stealing money meant for the poor. Many South Africans have been dismayed to see the country's widespread graft problem infiltrate efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus. This week his letter to ANC party members cited clear progress since the election, but he scolded: Today, the ANC and its leaders stand accused of corruption. The COVID-19 corruption scandals dominated Thursday's session with lawmakers, but Ramaphosa also was taken to task over the scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa and the countrys dire economic situation. South Africa slipped into recession before the pandemic lockdown that started in March, and its unemployment rate is now above 30%.
South Africa warns COVID-19 corruption puts 'lives at risk'
More so than at any other time, corruption puts our lives at risk, he said in a national address Thursday night. South Africa is seen as the best-prepared of any country in sub-Saharan Africa for COVID-19, but years of rampant corruption have weakened institutions, including the health system. The unit is already investigating more than 20 cases of corruption related to the COVID-19 relief money, spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said. At health workers union Hospersa, general secretary Noel Desfontaines welcomed the governments acknowledgement of the trouble. But some allege they have been turned away for the emergency COVID-19 relief grant of just over $20 for unemployed South Africans.