South Africans Supreme Court reinstated corruption charges against Zuma in January 2009, saying that a lower court had overstepped its authority in dismissing the charges. However, the countrys prosecuting authority dropped all charges against Zuma in April, about two weeks before national elections, citing “intolerable abuse” by investigators who were loyal to former president Mbeki.

In Aprils general election, the ruling party, the African National Congress, won overwhelming support, taking 65.9% of the vote, just shy of a two-thirds majority, which is required to change the constitution. Parliament elected Zuma president in May.

In Dec. 2012, Zuma was again elected leader of the African National Congress, which stands him in good stead for the 2014 presidential elections. Many considered this a significant victory for Jacob Zuma, achieved in spite of criticism for his goverments handling of the wage protests in Marikana in which 34 people were brutally killed by police.