Photograph — www.tinzwei.com

Yesterday, the South African president, Jacob Zuma, survived a second vote of no confidence that was put in motion by Members of Parliament (MPs) from the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance. Through its MPs, the party moved a motion for a vote of no confidence for the president because of what they have termed as his “mishandling of the economy.” However, Zuma’s political party, the African National Congress (ANC), which controls almost two thirds of the parliament defeated the motion, giving him more breathing space. A motion of no-confidence was moved in March, last year, with the same result. This latest furor is one more in a long list of controversies surrounding Zuma’s presidency.

Meanwhile, Zuma is still expected to stand trial again for 738 corruption cases levied against him in 2005 and later dropped. As he gears up for a potential third no-confidence vote to be moved by the other opposition party EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters), here are a few of the controversies he has been involved in during his tenure as president:

Zuma’s Nkandla Mansion upgrade

Jacob Zuma was accused of using state funds to upgrade his private residence at Nkandla in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. He was charged with using R246 million of tax payers money to make state-of-the-art upgrades like building a swimming pool, a modern amphitheater, a visitors centre, cattle enclosures and a chicken coop. The investigations into what was termed “Nkandlagate” is said to be the “most minute public examinations” of the residence of any South African Head of State. However, he offered to pay back some of the money used for the upgrade this year. Whether he will or will not remains to be seen.

His wives’ maintenance fees

Jacob Zuma is a polygamist, that much is confirmed. He has about six wives, four of which are recognised as South Africa’s first ladies. In his first term (2009-2014), he was estimated to have spent R54.6 million on his wives, under the Presidential Spousal Support Unit programme. This angered many South Africans, considering that there was a significant poor population that could have benefited from that amount. There are arguments that there should be only one first lady and not four.

Finance ministers

Jacob Zuma sacked the respected Finance Minister, Nhlanla Nene, last year December and replaced him with an unknown man in what seemed like a matter of political expediency. Nene was widely known for keeping South Africa’s economy stable despite its slow growth. He was replaced by a relatively unknown ANC member, an appointment which sparked widespread protests. The appointment also had its effect on the South African economy, as the rand plunged and hovered on the brink of “junk” status, due to investors’ lack of confidence in the new minister. Three days later, the replacement was replaced by the president’s first term finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, whose appointment allowed the rand to increase a little as he had the confidence of investors. However, the damage had been done as people began to protest, calling for the removal of Zuma. Now the #Zumamustfall movement is full-fledged and is a credible threat to the South African president.

Nepotism

The president of South Africa has been accused time and again of appointing family members into key government positions in South Africa. Things came to a head when one of his daughters was appointed as the chief of staff to the Minister of Telecommunications and postal services in 2014, one of the highest positions in that ministry. There was back lash from people as they questioned whether there was no one really more qualified for the job than her in the whole of South Africa. Zuma’s daughter quietly offered her resignation letter early this year.

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