Zuma flew over our house

Jacob Zuma (the guy on the right) is the former Deputy President of South Africa (i.e. the Vice-president). He was second in command behind President Thabo Mbeki (the guy on the left, pointing at Zuma). Mbeki is only the second president South Africa has seen since the end of apartheid in 1994. The first being Nelson Mandela (not pictured). All three South African politicians are part of the ruling party in South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC).

Zuma was forced by President Mbeki to resign from his position as deputy president based on charges of corruption. He had been involved in a multi million dollar arms deal with a large South African company (kind of like the Haliburton of South Africa). Irregularities were suspected in this deal, and Zuma allegedly solicited a bribe of $80,000 a year in return for protection from the government probe. Essentially, he offered to pay someone this amount if they would simply not look into the matter. Kind of like when you pay the border patrol not to look into your glove box. Thats fine for people sneaking pot across the border of Mexico, but not the kind of behavior you would expect from a Vice President.

So what does all this have to do with me? Well, the President's house is the official residence of high ranking public officials when they come to Durban. Its enormous, heavily guarded, and located about a block from my house. On November 12th, as I was packing for our camping trip, Zuma's helicopter flew right over our house to land at the nearby residence. He was in town for his court date and posted a bail of R1,000. Why he is allowed to stay at the President's house when he is not even the deputy president anymore.

Anyway, Zuma was in town to be indicted basically. His trial wont even start until July 2006, so I am likely to have forgotten about it all by then.