I just hope that this will put into proper perspective the allegations that all issues plaguing Africa are due to white colonialism. Yes, that remains at the root of many present today problems but for decades African leaders have had the chance to leverage the tremendous talent and resource potential of Africa for creating broader based prosperity but too often they just filled their own coffers and didn't care at all for the average African. Zuma exemplifies this extractive and corrupt political class perfectly well.
3
So, apartheid ended officially in 1994 and by the late 90s Zuma, hence the ANC, was embroiled in major corruption scandal... it took less than five years to subvert Mandela’s dream and to show that, notwithstanding the nightmare of apartheid, the ANC was just another corrupt political machine. How deeply sad and troubling for every other society in transition. Then again, the nations of the former Soviet bloc and Eastern Europe, China and however many other African and Asian states have betrayed the faith and hopes of their peoples in like manner. Perhaps overt greed and venal corrupt self-interest is the core of the human condition. Come back Mr. Mandela, for we know not what we do.
2
I'd like to see the NYT run the photo of Zuma anf Mandela... Not long before Mandela passed, Zuma had pressed for this photo-op. The frail 'Madiba' in his wheelchair made sure, I believe, that his displeasure was very apparent on his face. Having lived in South Africa in the early 90s, when Mandela was first released, I got to see him on several occasions. He was luminous. So it was disturbing to see that look on his face.No doubt in his wisdom, he knew this day would come: justice heaps dismay on Zuma's face.
4
Finally! Jacob Zuma has been an embarrassment for South Africa and never deserved to occupy the office held by Nelson Mandela. It will be a great day for all South Africans when the justice system passes judgment on this greedy, corrupt criminal.
10
Mandela is turning over in his grave....with new proposal of taking land from white farmers without compensation South African will soon be like Zimbabwe
6
If American readers are not automatically making comparisons between Zuma and Trump, in this story of manipulation of the justice system and plundering of national wealth, allowed by a once-visionary and brave political party (ANC under Mandela), then woe are we. This is what a pervasive corruption can do- given enough time- to ANY country. Given the silence & complicity of today's GOP, havoc & mayhem await us.
19
Trevor Noah did a very fun bit where he compared Trump to several corrupt African presidents, including Zuma.
10
Sadly, the rampant corruption throughout Africa, especially South Africa, has been vastly underreported by the media, because of a mixture of political correctness, lack of on onsite reporters and long established indifference to what happens there.
14
@DSM14, are you sure that there hasn't been any reporting into corruption?
Have you seen or read the extensive investigation by the media into state capture and corruption of the Gupta brothers in South Africa? That is the primary reason that Zuma is in his present predicament, including the main reason he was forced out of the presidency. The investigation unearthed unethical practices by SAP, McKinsey, KPMG, Bell Pottinger, SAP just to name a few.
So your opinion is incorrect in this regard.
2
Justice is slooow in South Africa. They are charging Zuma for the arms deal in the late 90s. In 2007 there were hundreds of charges which were dismissed because the prosecution was unprepared to present evidence. After 10 years as president he is charged with corruption. I bet the truth and reconciliation committee will let him go and I predict there will not be any adverse consequences for him. One thing Zuma did well was to keep the land reform and xenophobia from doing any major harm to people in South Africa during his years as president.
4
I don't agree - there is no "truth & reconciliation committee". He will have to stand trial and his only recourse then (if he is found guilty) is to be pardoned by the President.
I also disagree on the land question - Zuma gave power to traditional chiefs in the rural areas which effectively put the land in their hands. In KwaZulu Natal, the Chief is charging rent on the land and is evicting people if they do not pay their rent.
2
I was joking about the South African justice system M.MacGinty. What I meant was that Zuma with the best lawyers that he will hire will be ensured of never being held responsible for the alleged corruption and spend even a single hour in prison. With regard to the land question, land grab and murder of farmers is not the same as paying chiefs extortion tax. Not that it is a fair tax but at least it is not as barbaric.
1
I get that being able to afford the best lawyers considerably improves your chances but Zuma is now on his own, can no longer manipulate the justice system and will have to pay his own legal costs if he loses. His previous benefactor was found found guilty on these same charges. Add to that Zuma will almost certainly face further charges from the "state capture inquiry" and his outlook looks grim.
I also agree the previous land grabs were barbaric. I wonder though how people would have felt when after a couple of hundred years, their party gets into power but instead of restitution their land rights are lost to a patronage system.
2
Having lived here through a most depressing nine years of this horribly corrupt crook's tenure as president, this country is now in desperate need of healing, along with jobs, investment, and further progress towards racial equality and reconciliation. Those latter three goals have suffered setbacks while the country was plundered by Zuma, his family and friends. They were SO blatant in their thievery of public funds that we often wondered "But where are the good guys in the ANC? Are they not seeing this? Are they not thoroughly embarrassed by what Zuma has done to the legacy of this once-heroic political movement?"
25
This has been a long time coming.
As a law student I have been amazed by how long one can delay justice through the abuse of systems and access to the top lawyers. Zuma has exposed loopholes in our system which we need to address.
It has also been an instructive lesson in how one can abuse the national prosecuting authority when the system is weak.
For ten years this man has been playing cat and mouse with the system, now he can finally have his day in court.
15
Zuma is just the tip of the iceberg of corruption in the ANC but hopefully the tide is turning and President Ramaphosa will green-light the removal of all the bad apples. South Africa can be an enormous influence for constructive development throughout Africa. Now is their time.
7
The arc of the moral universe in South Africa is very long, but it will eventually bend toward justice...
5
As Trump has risen to power I have occasionally seen parallels to Zuma's checkered past, scandals, money deals etc..
I will be surprised if Zuma's situation in S. Africa today is not replicated by Trump in the USA after 2020 or, heaven help ys, 2024, if I live to see it.
Both are corrupt, self serving bullies.
9
Everything is not about Trump. We are not the center of the world.
9
How dare you tell Donald he's not the center of the universe !
3
If you know history of either of the 2 countries Bruce Olson you will not make such outrageous self serving predictions to the NY Times readers. Your predictions are worse and uninformed than those of the NY Times about who will win the 2016 presidential election.
2