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Jacob Zuma was born in 1942 in Inkandla, KwaZulu Natal influenced by a trade unionist family member, he became involved in politics at an early age, joining the ANC in 1959. He became an active member of Umkhonto we Sizwe in 1962, following the banning of the ANC in 1960.
While on his way out of the country in 1963, he was arrested with a group of 45 recruits near Zeerust, and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment on Robben Island. After his release, Zuma helped mobilise internal resistance and was instrumental in the re-establishment of ANC underground structures in the then Natal between 1973 and 1975.
He left South Africa in 1975 and became a member of the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) in 1977. By the end of the 1980s he was Head of the ANC Intelligence Department. Following the unbanning of the ANC in February 1990, he was one of the first ANC leaders to return to South Africa to begin the process of negotiations. In 1991, at the first ANC conference held in South Africa since 1959, he was elected the Deputy Secretary General. After 1994 elections, Zuma was appointed MEC of Economic Affairs and Tourism in KwaZulu Natal. In December 1994, he was elected ANC National Chairperson.
He was elected ANC Deputy President in December 1997.
He served as Deputy President of South Africa from 1999 to 2005. He was elected ANC President in December 2007. |
