The Apology of Jacob Zuma : Implications for Political Trust - Research

This article analyses the testimony of former President Jacob Zuma, given at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. It focuses on the revelations of the former President and their possible implications for political trust in South Africa. It uses a framework by Francis Fukuyama (1995), who argues that trust or social capital is an important factor in achieving collaboration and prosperity in society. The article argues that the revelations of the former President will possibly affect trust negatively. They have the potential to affect trust among members within the African National Congress (ANC), people's trust of the ANC, the trust of the private sector, the office of the Public Protector and the media by the ANC and the general public. The paper argues that it will be difficult to grow South Africa together in a trust deficient environment.