Mar 16, 2018 - Politics & Policy

Former South African president Jacob Zuma charged with corruption

Jacob Zuma

Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP via Getty Images

Former South African president Jacob Zuma, who resigned in February ahead of a no confidence vote that would have removed him from power, has officially been charged on 16 counts of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

The backdrop: Zuma has been dogged by corruption scandals since before he became president in 2009, and was most recently accused of steering government contracts to two wealthy Indian-born brothers and enriching himself in the process. His successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, has presented himself as a reformer and anti-corruption fighter.

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