Wayne Lumbasi
The Jacob Zuma Foundation has strongly rejected recent reports linking former South African President Jacob Zuma to convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein, calling the coverage a deliberate smear campaign aimed at damaging the former president’s reputation.
The controversy follows the recent release of thousands of court documents in the United States related to Epstein’s criminal investigations. These documents include emails, correspondence, and administrative notes involving Epstein, his associates, and a wide network of public figures. Among the released records, Zuma’s name appears in connection with a dinner in London during his 2010 official visit to the United Kingdom. Media reports quickly highlighted the mention, prompting speculation about Zuma’s involvement.
Responding to the coverage, the Zuma Foundation, through spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi, described the reports as misleading and unfair. Manyi explained that Zuma’s name appearing in the documents does not indicate any wrongdoing or connection to Epstein’s criminal activities. He emphasised that Zuma has never been questioned, investigated, or charged in relation to Epstein.
The Foundation clarified that the documents in question reflect only logistical arrangements for the dinner. There is no suggestion that Zuma attended the event or participated in any illegal activity. Manyi criticised the media coverage as an attempt to tarnish the former president’s reputation by association, and called on the public to distinguish between facts and speculation.
The unsealed Epstein files include references to many high-profile figures from around the world, often mentioned in passing in correspondence about social events, travel, or introductions. In Zuma’s case, the mention in the files is limited and purely administrative, and the Foundation stressed that it should not be interpreted as evidence of misconduct.
In its official statement, the Zuma Foundation said the matter is closed, reiterating that attempts to link Zuma to Epstein are baseless. The Foundation urged media outlets and the public to exercise caution when reporting on the documents and to avoid drawing conclusions that are not supported by facts.
By issuing this statement, the Foundation aims to protect Zuma’s reputation from being unfairly dragged into a global scandal. It emphasised that there is no proof connecting him to Epstein’s criminal activities, and that misleading reports serve only to create unnecessary controversy.
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