South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma was recently involved in a car accident but fortunately escaped unharmed. According to police reports, a drunk driver collided with his official armoured state vehicle on Thursday evening.
However, a prominent member of his uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party has raised suspicions of deliberate targeting.
Jacob Zuma, who has been suspended by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and is actively involved in campaigning for the MK ahead of the presidential polls in May. He was traveling with his official protection team when the incident occurred on a road in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal around 18:40 local time (16:40 GMT) on Thursday.
A brief police statement confirmed that there were no injuries, including among members of the Presidential Protection Services, and that Zuma was safely evacuated to his residence.
The driver responsible for the collision, a 51-year-old man, has been arrested on charges of drunken driving as well as reckless and negligent driving.
Musa Mkhize, the head of elections for the MK party, expressed his belief to the public broadcaster SABC that the crash was intentional rather than accidental.
“Unfortunately, we have been waiting for it to happen. The president was warned that before the day of the elections, he would be lying in the hospital. Thanks to the Presidential Protection Unit members who managed to keep the president safe,” Mkhize remarked, as quoted by News24.
Zuma, aged 81, served as president from 2009 until 2018, when he was compelled to resign amidst corruption allegations, which he vehemently denies. As a former president, he is entitled to official protection.
The timing of the accident coincides with the electoral commission’s announcement that Zuma is ineligible to run as a candidate in the upcoming general election on May 29th. This decision stems from his 15-month jail sentence in 2021 for contempt of court, which constitutionally disqualifies him.
Several opinion polls indicate a potential decline in the ANC’s share of the vote, possibly falling below 50% for the first time in three decades. The emergence of the MK, a relatively new party, could further impact ANC support, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, where Zuma retains significant influence.