Former South African leader, Jacob Zuma, escaped unscathed from a car crash during the night, when a vehicle carrying him collided with another driven by an intoxicated individual, according to authorities on Friday.
The occurrence transpired shortly after electoral officials ruled out Zuma’s candidacy for the May 29th general election, intensifying the already heightened tensions preceding the polls.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the driver’s vehicle crashed into the official armored state vehicle of former president Mr. Jacob Zuma.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) announced that the 51-year-old individual was apprehended in the KwaZulu Natal province for driving under the influence, along with charges of reckless and negligent driving.
Zuma and his security detail came off the situation unscathed, while the 81-year-old was escorted to his residence without any reported injuries.
Zuma, a longstanding member of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), was removed from power in 2018 amid accusations of corruption, yet retains considerable sway in the political arena.
His announcement in December of joining the opposition uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party for campaigning purposes, with the aim of resurrecting his political career, inflicted a significant blow to the ANC.
Read also: Ex-South African President, Zuma Barred From May Elections
The ANC filed a new court application against MK on Wednesday, following its unsuccessful initial attempt to have the party barred.
According to the ANC, the name and logo of MK bear striking similarities to those of the disbanded apartheid-era military branch of the ANC, previously overseen by Nelson Mandela, posing a risk of voter misguidance or ambiguity.
Nhlamulo Ndhlela, the spokesperson for MK, indicated that the car accident seemed to have intentionality behind it.
“The police minister who is responsible for the former president’s protection unit has not upgraded his vehicle for eight years and he is the same person that has previously uttered messages around burying Zuma,” Ndhlela told AFP.
“There is underhand at play here,” he said, alleging that Zuma’s car was specifically targeted in the motorcade.Political tensions are running high in the lead-up to the polls, in which the ANC is on the brink of dropping below 50 per cent of the vote for the first time since it came to power at the end of apartheid in 1994.
The party’s support is dwindling as the economy struggles and allegations of corruption and mismanagement take center stage.
Ahead of the upcoming vote, speculation runs wild on social media following Zuma’s recent car accident, fueling numerous conspiracy theories.
When asked how Zuma was, Ndhlela told AFP: “He is in high spirits as always and was in laughter this morning about the accident.“But it does not mean he took it lightly (or that) he is not aware of what’s happening.”
Mr. Zuma mentioned that he was at the church today, praying that the evil forces would not infiltrate MK, in reference to the ANC.