Jacob Zuma

=== Domestic policy ===
[[File:Zuma Stadium Tour, 2009 World Economic Forum on Africa.jpg|thumb|240x240px|Zuma (centre) on a tour of [[Green Point Stadium]] in June 2009, in preparation for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]]|left]]

==== Radical economic transformation ====
As a former member of the SACP, Zuma has described himself as a socialist<ref name="mcgreal2" /> and became president with the support of a left-wing coalition.<ref name="mcgreal2" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Wines |first=Michael |date=17 December 2007 |title=Leadership Battle Grips South Africa's Dominant Party |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/world/africa/17anc.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721071919/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/world/africa/17anc.html |archive-date=21 July 2016}}</ref> Analysts have claimed that he has bolstered [[populism]] in South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gumede |first=William |date=2019-05-28 |title=How the EFF has shifted SA politics to the left |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/Columnists/GuestColumn/how-the-eff-has-shifted-sa-politics-to-the-left-20190528 |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Ipsos |title=Beyond Populism |date=9 February 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdjhoV8_FBY |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310172638/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdjhoV8_FBY |access-date=27 April 2017 |archive-date=10 March 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> From 2017, at the tail-end of his presidency, his rhetoric and policy priorities became more leftist under what is known as the "radical economic transformation" (RET) programme of the ANC of this period. Zuma announced the new focus on RET during his February 2017 [[State of the Nation Address (South Africa)|State of the Nation]] address.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Merten |first=Marianne |date=2017-06-29 |title=ANC policy, radical economic transformation and ideological proxy battles for control |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-06-29-analysis-anc-policy-radical-economic-transformation-and-ideological-proxy-battles-for-control/ |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}</ref> Later that year, he explained that RET had been adopted as ANC policy and therefore as government policy, and defined it as a "fundamental change in the structures, systems, institutions and patterns of ownership and control of the economy, in favour of all South Africans, especially the poor".<ref name="Paton-2017">{{Cite web |last=Paton |first=Carol |date=2017-12-07 |title=Foreign investors in energy sector will have to partner with locals, Zuma says |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2017-12-07-foreign-investors-in-energy-sector-will-have-to-partner-with-locals-zuma-says/ |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=Business Day |language=en-ZA}}</ref> The RET policy was controversial,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Desai |first=Ashwin |date=2018-10-02 |title=The Zuma moment: between tender-based capitalists and radical economic transformation |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/02589001.2018.1522424 |journal=Journal of Contemporary African Studies |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=499–513 |doi=10.1080/02589001.2018.1522424 |issn=0258-9001 |s2cid=158520517}}</ref> and some critics claimed that it had popular political appeal but lacked substance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McKaiser |first=Eusebius |date=2017-04-21 |title=It's radical economic gibberish |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-04-21-00-its-radical-economic-gibberish/ |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=[[Mail & Guardian]] |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref name="Rudin-2017">{{Cite web |last=Rudin |first=Jeff |date=2017-04-25 |title=Zuma's plan for radical economic transformation is just BEE on steroids |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-04-25-zumas-plan-for-radical-economic-transformation-is-just-bee-on-steriods/ |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=[[Mail & Guardian]] |language=en-ZA}}</ref> Others claimed that it was used to defend "rent-seeking practices"<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bhorat |first=Haroon |url=https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Betrayal-of-the-Promise-25052017.pdf |title=Betrayal of the promise: how South Africa is being stolen |publisher=State Capacity Research Project |year=2017}}</ref> and the influence of the [[Gupta family]] on Zuma's administration.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-02 |title='Let's embrace radical economic transformation' |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-07-02-00-lets-embrace-radical-economic-transformation/ |access-date=2021-12-07 |website=[[Mail & Guardian]] |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-31 |title=Dot by dot, state capture emerges |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-08-31-00-dot-by-dot-state-capture-emerges/ |access-date=2021-12-07 |website=[[Mail & Guardian]] |language=en-ZA}}</ref> Zuma claimed that critics of his politics were agents of "[[white monopoly capital]]".<ref name="Rudin-2017" />

==== Economic reform and spending ====
Zuma was inaugurated in South Africa at the height of the [[Financial crisis of 2007–2008|2008 global financial crisis]] and amid South Africa's first [[recession]] since the end of apartheid.<ref name="Shipalana-2017">{{Cite web|last=Shipalana|first=Palesa|date=2017-12-14|title=The good, the bad and the ugly: an economic review of Zuma's presidency|url=https://www.africaportal.org/features/good-bad-and-ugly-economic-review-zumas-presidency/|access-date=2022-01-12| publisher=Africa Portal}}</ref> Upon taking office, he established the [[National Planning Commission of South Africa|National Planning Commission]] under the office of the presidency which was chaired by Minister [[Trevor Manuel]]. It was responsible for developing the [[National Development Plan]], which was adopted by Zuma's cabinet in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-04-30|title=Statement by President Jacob Zuma on the appointment of Commissioners to the National Planning Commission|url=https://www.presidency.gov.za/speeches/statement-president-jacob-zuma-appointment-commissioners-national-planning-commission|access-date=2022-01-12| publisher=The Presidency|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Eythan |date=2013-06-20 |title=The National Development Plan (NDP): the current state of play |url=https://hsf.org.za/publications/hsf-briefs/the-national-development-plan-ndp-the-current-state-of-play |access-date=2022-01-13 |publisher=Helen Suzman Foundation}}</ref> Other major initiatives included the Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme, which was launched in 2011 amid [[South African energy crisis|electricity generation shortfalls]] at state energy utility [[Eskom]], and a R4-trillion National Infrastructure Plan launched in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-12-11 |title=Cabinet's five-point plan to address SA electricity woes |url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/trending/75760/cabinets-five-point-plan-to-address-sa-electricity-woes/ |access-date=2022-01-12 | publisher=BusinessTech |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Paton |first=Carol |date=2019-02-18 |title=Forum linked to Zuma lobby groups joins campaign against IPPs |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/politics/2019-02-18-forum-linked-to-zuma-lobby-groups-joins-campaign-against-ipps/ |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=Business Day |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-10-19 |title=Zuma launches national infrastructure plan |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2012-10-19-zuma-launches-national-infrastructure-plan/ |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=[[Mail & Guardian]] |language=en-ZA}}</ref> Zuma expressed support for expanding South Africa's [[Nuclear power in South Africa|nuclear power programme]], particularly for a nuclear deal with Russian nuclear agency [[Rosatom]] which concluded in September 2014 but was ruled unlawful by the [[Western Cape Division|Western Cape High Court]] in 2017.<ref name="Business Day-2019">{{Cite web |date=2019-03-25 |title=Editorial: SA must stand up against Jacob Zuma's nuclear option |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/editorials/2019-03-25-editorial-sa-must-stand-up-against-jacob-zumas-nuclear-option/ |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=Business Day |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref name="Maughan-2019">{{Cite web |last=Maughan |first=Karyn |date=2019-03-28 |title=Zuma's nuclear deal: Russian roulette for SA |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/features/2019-03-28-zumas-nuclear-deal-russian-roulette-for-sa/ |access-date=2022-01-12 | publisher=Business Day |language=en-ZA}}</ref>

[[File:Встреча Владимира Путина с Президентом ЮАР Джейкобом Зумой 1.jpg|thumb|Zuma greets Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] in 2015]]
Zuma's administration pursued a number of structural economic policy reforms, but critics characterised them as "investor-unfriendly",<ref name="Shipalana-2017" /> and most were met significant opposition. His reforms included the increased regulation of [[List of private security companies|private security companies]].<ref name="Shipalana-2017" /><ref name="Mtyala-2015">{{Cite web |last=Mtyala |first=Quinton |date=2015-11-16 |title=Zuma yet to sign security industry bill |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/zuma-yet-to-sign-security-industry-bill-1945913 |access-date=2022-01-12 | publisher= Independent Online (South Africa) IOL |language=en}}</ref> He also increased the regulation of oil, gas, and minerals resources.<ref name="Shipalana-2017" /><ref name="Harvey-2015">{{Cite web |last=Harvey |first=Ross |date=2015-02-09 |title=Will South Africa's Minerals Bill take the road less travelled? |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/will-south-africas-minerals-bill-take-the-road-less-travelled/ |access-date=2022-01-12 | publisher=SAIIA |language=en-GB}}</ref> Furthermore Zuma announced a proposal to increase [[Black Economic Empowerment|black economic empowerment]] ownership requirements in mines.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Phakati |first=Bekezela |date=2017-06-22 |title=Zuma backs new Mining Charter |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/business/2017-06-22-zuma-backs-new-mining-charter/ |access-date=2022-01-12 | publisher=Sunday Times |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref name="Nicolson-2017">{{Cite web |last=Nicolson |first=Greg |date=2017-06-26 |title=Chamber of Mines: Mining Charter is 'illegal', 'unconstitutional' and 'stupefying' |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-06-26-chamber-of-mines-mining-charter-is-illegal-unconstitutional-and-stupefying/ |access-date=2022-01-12 | publisher=Daily Maverick |language=en}}</ref> In 2017, Zuma advanced a proposal for the introduction of a national [[minimum wage]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orderson |first=Crystal |date=2017-02-08 |title=South Africa's presidential frontrunner announces country's first minimum wage |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/843/south-africas-presidential-frontrunner-announces-countrys-first-minimum-wage/ |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=The Africa Report |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mokone |first=Thabo |date=2017-11-02 |title=National minimum wage to be implemented in May 2018 |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2017-11-02-national-minimum-wage-of-r3200-per-month-to-be-implemented-in-may-2018/ |access-date=2022-01-12 | publisher=Sunday Times |language=en-ZA}}</ref>

Zuma was attentive to [[Land reform in South Africa|land reform]] issues throughout his second term, but from 2017 he emphasised his support for land expropriation without compensation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-24 |title=Zuma says government will take land without compensation: report |url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/160313/zuma-says-government-will-take-land-without-compensation-report/ |access-date=2022-01-12 | publisher=BusinessTech |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Merten-2017">{{Cite web |last=Merten |first=Marianne |date=2017-03-03 |title=Parliament: Zuma calls on ANC to unite with EFF to change the Constitution on land issues |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-03-03-parliament-zuma-calls-on-anc-to-unite-with-eff-to-change-the-constitution-on-land-issues/ |access-date=2022-01-12 | publisher=Daily Maverick |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fabricius |first=Peter |date=2017-03-30 |title=Will Zuma's attempts to Zanufy South Africa backfire? |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/will-zumas-attempts-to-zanufy-south-africa-backfire |access-date=2022-01-12 | publisher=ISS Africa |language=en}}</ref> While opening the ANC's [[54th National Conference of the African National Congress|54th National Conference]] in December 2017, he unilaterally announced that [[Higher education in South Africa|higher education]] would be free for students in households whose income was less than [[South African rand|R]]350,000 per year, meeting a central demand of the [[FeesMustFall|#FeesMustFall]] student protests.<ref name="Mail & Guardian-2018" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Basson |first=Adriaan |date=2021-03-15 |title=Jacob Zuma did not only steal our money; he also stole our dreams |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/columnists/adriaanbasson/adriaan-basson-jacob-zuma-did-not-only-steal-our-money-he-also-stole-our-dreams-20210314 |access-date=2022-01-12 | publisher=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref>

South Africa's [[Social welfare programs in South Africa|social grants programme]] expanded under Zuma,<ref name="Shipalana-2017" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Holmes |first=Thalia |date=2014-06-19 |title=Social grants beneficiaries more than doubled in 10 years |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2014-06-19-social-grants-beneficiaries-more-than-double-in-10-years/ |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=[[Mail & Guardian]] |language=en-ZA}}</ref> and Zuma was praised for his HIV/AIDS policy which has been credited with increasing [[life expectancy]] in South Africa.<ref name="Shipalana-2017" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Masombuka |first=Sipho |date=2016-04-14 |title=Step down and salvage your HIV/Aids treatment policy legacy' Zuma advised |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2016-04-14-step-down-and-salvage-your-hivaids-treatment-policy-legacy-zuma-advised/ |access-date=2022-01-12 | publisher=Sunday Times |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-17 |title=Zuma, the accidental Aids hero |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/opinion/zuma-the-accidental-aids-hero-12450157 |access-date=2022-01-12 | publisher= Independent Online (South Africa) IOL |language=en}}</ref> However, his critics claim that his policies increased South Africa's debt burden<ref name="Mail & Guardian-2018">{{Cite web|date=2018-02-23|title=Budget 2018 is Zuma's costly legacy|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-02-23-budget-2018-is-zumas-costly-legacy/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=[[Mail & Guardian]] |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref name="Henderson-2018">{{Cite web|last=Henderson|first=Roxanne|date=2018-02-18|title=Counting the cost of the blunders, debt and graft of the Zuma-era|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/news/2018-02-17-counting-the-cost-of-the-blunders-debt-and-graft-of-the-zuma-era/|access-date=2022-01-12| publisher=Sunday Times|language=en-ZA}}</ref> with the [[Debt-to-GDP ratio|debt-to-GDP]] ratio increasing from 28% at the start of his presidency<ref>{{Cite web|last=Atud|first=Vivian|date=2015-01-14|title=South African Government Debt up 62% Under the Zuma Administration|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/xArchive/Voices/south-african-government-debt-up-62-under-the-zuma-administration-20180719|access-date=2022-01-12| publisher=News24|language=en-US}}</ref> to just over 50% in the week of his resignation.<ref name="Henderson-2018" /> [[Nedbank]], one of South Africa's largest banks, estimates that poor policy decisions, maladministration, and [[corruption]] during Zuma's second term alone cost the South African economy R470 billion (US$33.7 billion).<ref>{{cite web|date=21 February 2019|title=Analysis: Eskom's troubles show everything that's wrong with SA|url=https://www.fin24.com/Budget/analysis-eskoms-troubles-show-everything-thats-wrong-with-sa-20190220|access-date=21 February 2019| publisher=Fin24}}</ref>

Contracts with the [[consulting firm]]s [[McKinsey & Company]], [[KPMG]], and [[Deloitte]] were linked to alleged corruption in [[state-owned enterprise]]s. McKinsey & Company eventually reached an agreement with the South African government and paid back R1 Billion (US$67.3 million) for problems relating to work done at [[Eskom]], as well as a company linked to the [[Gupta family]]. In January 2022 the South African government published the findings of an inquiry into [[state capture]] and the consultancy firm [[Bain & Company]] stands accused of helping Zuma to undermine the South African tax authority.<ref>{{Cite book|title= The Big Con: How the Consulting Industry Weakens Our Businesses, Infantilizes Our Governments and Warps Our Economies | author1=Mariana Mazzucato | author2= Rosie Collington   |publisher= Penguin Books Limited |year=2023 |isbn= 9781802060270 | pages=}}</ref>