Jacob Zuma was born on the 12th of April in Inkandla KwaZulu-Natal and started to move up the political ladder from an early age but with a tainted record and poor education. It is quite natural that the national party guarded their power jealously by (dispensing) of the men they felt were a danger to them. During the apartheid years the African National Conference was a power to be reckoned with the ANC was banned and men like Nelson Mandela and Jacob Zuma had to be contained. During 1963 Jacob Zuma was on his way out of the country but was arrested and convicted of conspiring to over throw the government. He was imprisoned for ten years which he served on Robben Island.

Robben Island did not change his resolve and when released he was instrumental in the re-establishment of ANC underground structures. In 1975 he left South Africa, first settling in Swaziland then Mozambique. After extreme pressure by the PW Botha regime the Mozambique government had no choice but to force Jacob Zuma out of their country.

He moved to the ANC Head Office in Lusaka, Zambia, where he was appointed Head of Underground Structures and shortly thereafter Chief of the Intelligence Department.

What ever the political climate at the time Jacob Zuma should be commended for his assistance in helping young exiles while in Mozambique and helping to educate poor people in rural areas. He moved up in ranks as the years went by and used his position to help others less fortunate than him as well as assisting to keep the peace in a very troubled KwaZulu Natal.

After saying all this, I need to ask, what went wrong? His record was tainted by charges of rape followed by charges of embezzlement. In November 2005 he was charged with the rape of his deceased friend’s 31 year old daughter Fezeka Kuzwayo. His attitude during the trial was one of being convinced that he would not be convicted. This man who assisted with bringing peace to KwaZulu Natal sang, throughout the trial, with many of his followers Lethu Mshini Wami (Bring me my machine gun). On top of this he was the head of the National AIDS Council yet admitted to having sex with Fezeka, who is HIV-positive, without a condom. He accused Fezeka of enticing him with a short skirt and insisted that it was not rape but consensual sex and eventually was found not guilty. The one statement he made that really boggles my mind was “I took a shower to reduce my risk of infection”. Jacob Zuma did not have a good education but I would expect this kind of statement from an uneducated person, not from the Head of the National AIDS Council. Although the outcome was favourable for Jacob Zuma I continue to have my doubts especially as Fezeka was exiled to the Netherlands.

Not long after Jacob Zuma was charged with fraud, racketeering, embezzlement and money laundering. After an eight year investigation the case was dropped because of abuses of the legal process by top officials. The legal case was dropped but the that does not prove he is innocent. As if all this was not enough, Thabo Mbeke was dethroned by the ANC because of a statement made by the judge. A judge that was later accused of being corrupt and taking payment to dismiss the charges against Jacob Zuma.

South Africa is very tolerant of its leaders if they stand for the poor and under privileged. The rape and corruption charges were forgotten in the election and Jacob Zuma became the new President of South Africa. Not only do they forgive and forget but South Africa laws do not apply to the rich or ministers of government. If a civilian committed any of the crimes that Jacob Zuma was charged for they would find themselves in prison at the drop of a hat. It is not only Jacob Zuma but many others in power who walk out of court free men even when caught red handed. No wonder power is so sought after and jealously guarded.