Newly released documents from the United States Department of Justice have caused a stir in South Africa after former president Jacob Zuma was named in previously sealed records connected to the late financier and convicted s*x offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The material, part of a massive disclosure running into millions of pages, includes emails and flight records made public in early 2026. The documents appear to point to social interactions between Zuma and Epstein that had not been officially acknowledged before, moving the matter from long-standing speculation into the public record.
Among the most striking details is a reference to a private dinner arranged by Epstein for Zuma in London in 2010, when Zuma was serving as South Africa’s head of state. The records suggest the meeting did not form part of any formal diplomatic programme, prompting renewed scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding the encounter.
The revelation adds an international dimension to Zuma’s already complex legal situation. The former president continues to face prolonged litigation linked to the controversial arms deal, as well as court rulings compelling him to repay large sums spent on state-funded legal costs.
Human rights advocates and legal commentators have criticised the selective nature of the document redactions, arguing that while prominent political figures are named, many victims’ identities remain insufficiently protected.
In response, the Jacob Zuma Foundation has rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing, dismissing claims of an improper relationship between the former president and Epstein, whom it described as a convicted paedophile.
