Zuma emerges unscathed from NEC vote, rules another day

2016 has been a tough break for Jacob Zuma. Not only has he had to pay back (some of) the money for unauthorized upgrades to his Nkandla homestead, but the president has also faced numerous attempts by friends and foes alike in parliament - to remove him from the highest seat in office.

Here's a look back at the year that was for Zuma:

The Gupta link:

In March 2016, former ANC parliamentarian, Vytjie Mentor, revealed she had been offered the position of public enterprises minister by the controversial Gupta family - in exchange for 'favours.' The revelation was soon followed by that of Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas' own - in which he stated that the Gupta's offered him the role of finance minister. 

The nature of the relationship between Zuma and the wealthy Gupta family has been speculated over - and formed the basis of the investigation for the Public Protector's report on alleged state capture.

ANC veterans call for Zuma to step down:

In April 2016, anti-Apartheid icon, Ahmed Kathrada, penned a letter to Zuma - after the Constitutional Court ruled he had violated his Constitutional duties by not implementing the Public Protector's remedial action on non-security upgrades to his Nkandla home. 

In the two-page letter, Kathrada asked for Zuma to submit to the will of the people, and resign.

In recent months, a number of ANC veterans - including Cheryl Carolus, Mavuso Msimang, and Ronnie Kasrils - have all made similar calls to the embattled president. 

Following this weekend's meeting of the ANC's NEC - the stage seemed set for the most important showdown in Zuma's political career - as his own party deliberated on his fate as leader of the ANC. 

But following Gwede Mantashe's announcement that the NEC did not support a recall of the president, Zuma's fate within the party remains 

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Pravin Gordhan and the SARS Rogue Unit:

In September 2016, fraud charges were brought against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, and two former senior SARS officials. News of the charges sent the rand spiraling - but it was the alleged motivation behind the initial charges (which were subsequently withdrawn), that raised a number of eyebrows. 

Many believed the charges brought against Gordhan stemmed from a witch hunt by Zuma and his loyalists - against his political naysayers. 

Local government elections upsets:

In the August 2016 local government elections, the ANC lost control of the key cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria - for the first time since the end of white-minority rule in South Africa, in 1994. A lot of blame has been placed solely on Zuma's leadership - by opposition parties, and the media.

Pay Back the Money: 

In September 2016, President Zuma complied with the Constitutional Court Order which required him to repay the costs of non-security upgrades to his Nkandla homestead. He paid R7 814 155 to the South African Reserve Bank, through funds raised through a home loan obtained from VBS Mutual Bank  on its standard terms, one of the few financial institutions which offer home loans in respect of land owned by traditional authorities.

State of capture report:

In October, an investigation by former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela revealed evidence of collusion and a suspected unethical relationship between the President and the controversial Gupta family. It was recommended that Zuma establish a judicial inquiry - to further investigate allegations of criminal activity within government.

The outcomes of the Public Protector's state of capture report has not bode well for Zuma, as his own party members have now added their voices to the calls by opposition parties and civil society groups alike - for him to step down.