Jacob Zuma shouldn’t be here. By all the rules of conventional politics, he should be a footnote—a retired octogenarian spending his days in the hills of Nkandla, perhaps writing memoirs about his nine years leading South Africa. Instead, as we kick off 2026, the man they call Msholozi is arguably the most disruptive force in the country. He’s not just a former president; he’s the guy who broke the ANC’s thirty-year monopoly on power.
You’ve probably heard the term "Teflon President." It fits. No matter how many court cases, "State Capture" reports, or corruption scandals hit him, nothing seems to stick. Honestly, it’s wild to watch. In the 2024 elections, while everyone was busy counting the African National Congress (ANC) out, Zuma launched a brand-new party called uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) and basically nuked the political status quo.
The MK Party Earthquake
Most people thought the MK Party was a joke when it launched in late 2023. They were wrong. Zuma didn’t just participate; he snatched 14.6% of the national vote. That’s massive for a party that was barely six months old. He effectively ended the ANC’s majority, forcing them into a "Government of National Unity" with their bitter rivals, the Democratic Alliance (DA).
If you’re looking at Jacob Zuma South Africa today, you aren't looking at a has-been. You’re looking at the official opposition in many ways. While the ANC tries to keep the lights on and the water running, Zuma is out there playing to the crowds in Zulu, promising to take back the land and tear up the Constitution. It’s populist, it’s loud, and for millions of South Africans who feel left behind by the post-1994 "Rainbow Nation" dream, it’s exactly what they want to hear.
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Why does he still have so much pull?
It’s about more than just politics. It’s personal.
Zuma has this "man of the people" vibe that President Cyril Ramaphosa just can't replicate. He dances. He sings Umshini Wami. He talks about traditional values. In KwaZulu-Natal, he isn't just a politician; he’s a patriarch. Even after being jailed in 2021 for contempt of court—which triggered some of the worst rioting the country has ever seen—his support didn’t tank. It grew.
The Legal Maze: Arms Deals and Stolen Billions
Let’s get into the messy stuff. The reason Zuma's name is always in the headlines alongside words like "corruption" is a decades-long legal battle. The "Arms Deal" case? That started in the 90s. We’re in 2026, and it’s still dragging through the courts. It involves 16 counts of racketeering, corruption, money laundering, and fraud.
Then you have the Zondo Commission.
The findings were brutal. Thousands of pages detailing how the Gupta brothers—businessmen who were tight with Zuma—basically treated the South African state like their personal piggy bank. We're talking about billions of Rands disappearing from state-owned enterprises like Eskom and Transnet.
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- The "State Capture" Reality: Zuma denies it all. He says it’s a "lawfare" conspiracy by Western powers and their "local proxies" to keep him down.
- The Money: Just recently, in late 2025, a court dismissed his bid to appeal a ruling that he has to pay back nearly R29 million in state-funded legal fees. That’s a lot of cash for anyone, even a former head of state.
What People Get Wrong About Zuma
There’s a common misconception that Zuma is just "uneducated" or a "lucky survivor." That’s a mistake his rivals keep making.
Zuma was the ANC’s Head of Intelligence during the struggle against apartheid. You don't get that job if you're not a master strategist. He knows where the bodies are buried. He knows how the ANC operates because he helped build the machine.
When he left the ANC to back the MK Party, he didn't just walk away. He took the "intelligence" with him. He’s been systematically hollowing out ANC structures in provinces like Mpumalanga and KZN. It’s a slow-motion coup of the heartlands.
Kinda makes you wonder if the ANC actually knows how to fight him. They’ve tried expelling him (which they finally did in July 2024), but that just made him a martyr in the eyes of his followers. Every time the "establishment" attacks him, his base gets more fired up.
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The 2026 Landscape: What’s Next?
So, where does this leave Jacob Zuma South Africa right now?
As of January 2026, Zuma is still the puppet master of the MK Party. Even though he was barred from sitting in Parliament himself due to his criminal record, he runs the show from the outside. He’s currently reshuffling the party’s leadership—sacking "rogue elements" and tightening his grip. Just a few days ago, he was in court again, this time trying to get a judge recused from an inquiry. He’s the king of the delay tactic.
Actionable Insights for the South African Voter
If you’re trying to navigate the political noise, here’s what you actually need to watch:
- Local Government Elections: These are coming up fast. Watch how the MK Party performs in the municipalities. If they take over big hubs in KZN, the ANC’s national recovery plan is dead in the water.
- The Coalition Strain: The ANC-DA coalition is fragile. Zuma knows this. He is waiting for the moment the "marriage of convenience" hits a major policy roadblock so he can swoop in and say, "I told you so."
- The Legal Endgame: Keep an eye on the "Arms Deal" trial dates. If that case finally reaches a verdict, it could change everything. Or, knowing Zuma, it’ll just be another chapter in the longest-running legal soap opera in history.
Zuma’s story isn't over. He’s 83, but he’s got the energy of a man half his age when there’s a fight to be had. Whether you think he’s a liberation hero or the architect of a "failed state," you can't ignore him. He has reshaped the country’s future by refusing to let go of its past.
Next Steps:
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep a close eye on the by-election results in KwaZulu-Natal over the next three months. These are the "canaries in the coal mine" for the 2026 municipal elections and will tell you if the "Zuma effect" is still gaining momentum or if the novelty is finally wearing off. Look for shifts in voter turnout—Zuma wins when his people are angry enough to show up.