Arrest fears? Zuma breaks silence on claims he could be detained - IOL

Former president Jacob Zuma has claimed he has been made aware of plans to have him arrested.

uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader and former president Jacob Zuma says he has been made aware of reports suggesting that there are plans to have him arrested.

Zuma made the claims while addressing thousands of supporters at the party’s final election rally at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, north of Durban, on Sunday.

He addressed speculation surrounding his health and a possible arrest, urging supporters not to be afraid while insisting that the MK Party would remain in power.

However, he did not identify who was allegedly planning to arrest him or explain why he believed he could be arrested.

The rally marked Zuma’s first in-person public appearance since his discharge from hospital on October 17, as political parties made their final push ahead of Wednesday’s local government elections.

“Don’t worry about what you have heard being said about my health. Some people are ill-natured and have their own intentions. I don’t care about them,” he told supporters.

“I once came from one place to another after being called by comrades. I went, and something happened, but it wasn’t a big deal, as you see me standing here before you.”

Zuma sought to reassure the crowd about his condition, saying he remained himself and would continue to do so.

“You can all see me. There can be people who think differently, but no. I am myself and will keep being so until the end,” he said.

Addressing reports of a possible arrest, Zuma questioned why he would be targeted.

“Some are claiming that I might be arrested. My question is, why would I be arrested? What have I done? I don’t know,” he said.

The 84-year-old’s appearance followed weeks away from public campaign engagements after he was admitted to Netcare St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg on October 6.

He fell ill during an MK Party campaign event in uMsinga, northern KwaZulu-Natal, and spent 11 days at the facility before being discharged on October 17.

The party described his hospital stay as routine, saying medical staff had identified fatigue and recommended a period of rest under medical supervision.

Zuma did not provide further details about his health during Sunday’s address but sought to reassure supporters who had expressed concern about his absence.

The party had previously said he was recovering at home while continuing to attend to party matters.

Last week on Friday evening, Zuma also appeared in a video message released by the MK Party, in which he urged voters to support the organisation in the November 4 local government elections.

The MK Party, which broke away from the African National Congress (ANC), made its electoral debut in the 2024 national and provincial elections, emerging as the country’s third-largest political party.

Zuma served as South Africa’s president from 2009 until 2018, when he resigned following sustained pressure from within the ANC amid a series of corruption scandals.

Despite leaving office, he remains the central figure in the MK Party, which is now seeking to translate its national electoral support into representation in municipalities across the country.