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How Jacob Zuma Stole South Africa and How the People Fought Back

Mark Twain

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Published in Enemy Of The People: How Jacob Zuma Stole South Africa And How The People Fought Back

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Jacob Zuma's presidency of South Africa was marked by corruption, mismanagement, and state capture. During his nine years in office, he and his cronies looted billions of dollars from the public purse, leaving the country deeply impoverished. The people of South Africa fought back against Zuma's kleptocracy, eventually forcing him from office. This article tells the story of how Zuma stole South Africa and how the people fought back.

Zuma's Rise to Power

Jacob Zuma was born in 1942 in rural KwaZulu-Natal. He joined the African National Congress (ANC) as a young man and was imprisoned on Robben Island for ten years during apartheid. After his release from prison, Zuma became a prominent figure in the ANC and was elected President of South Africa in 2009.

Enemy of the People: How Jacob Zuma stole South Africa and how the people fought back

by Adriaan Basson

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Zuma's presidency began with great promise. He promised to create jobs, reduce poverty, and improve education and healthcare. However, it soon became clear that Zuma was more interested in enriching himself and his cronies than in governing the country.

Zuma's Corruption

Zuma's corruption was evident in a number of ways. He used his position to award lucrative government contracts to his friends and family. He also took bribes from businesses in exchange for favorable treatment. In one particularly egregious case, Zuma was accused of accepting a bribe of $10 million from a French arms company in exchange for awarding the company a contract to supply weapons to the South African military.

Zuma's corruption extended beyond bribery and kickbacks. He also used his position to loot state-owned enterprises. For example, he appointed his friends and family to key positions in the South African Revenue Service (SARS). These individuals then used their positions to award themselves and their allies lucrative contracts.

Zuma's corruption had a devastating impact on South Africa. It led to a loss of confidence in the government and a decline in economic growth. It also deepened the country's inequality and poverty.

The People's Fightback

The people of South Africa were outraged by Zuma's corruption. They took to the streets in protest and demanded his resignation. In 2016, the ANC recalled Zuma as President. He was replaced by Cyril Ramaphosa, who promised to clean up corruption and rebuild the economy.

Ramaphosa has made some progress in fighting corruption. He has appointed a new head of the NPA, who has begun to investigate Zuma and his cronies. He has also taken steps to strengthen SARS and other state-owned enterprises.

However, the fight against corruption is far from over. Zuma and his allies continue to exert influence over the ANC and the government. They are determined to block any attempts to hold them accountable for their crimes.

The Future of South Africa

The future of South Africa depends on the outcome of the fight against corruption. If the people of South Africa are able to defeat Zuma and his cronies, they will have a chance to build a more just and prosperous society. However, if corruption continues to prevail, South Africa will remain a deeply divided and impoverished country.

The story of Jacob Zuma and his presidency is a cautionary tale about the dangers of corruption. It shows how corruption can undermine democracy, destroy the economy, and impoverish a nation. The people of South Africa have shown great courage and determination in their fight against corruption. They deserve our support in their struggle to build a better future for their country.

Alt Attributes

* Jacob Zuma: A corrupt former president of South Africa. * South Africa: A country that was looted by Zuma and his cronies. * People of South Africa: The brave people who fought back against Zuma's kleptocracy. * Cyril Ramaphosa: The current President of South Africa who has vowed to clean up corruption. * Fight against corruption: A difficult but necessary struggle to build a better future for South Africa.

Enemy of the People: How Jacob Zuma stole South Africa and how the people fought back

by Adriaan Basson

4.4 out of 5