South Africa’s ex-president Zuma escapes unharmed from car crash

Police arrest 51-year-old man for drunk and reckless driving after he crashed into Zuma’s armoured state vehicle.

South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma survived a car accident after a vehicle transporting him was hit by a drunk driver, police said.

The incident happened hours after electoral officials barred Zuma from standing in the May 29 general elections.

A 51-year-old man was arrested in KwaZulu-Natal province “for drunken driving, as well as on a charge of reckless and negligent driving”, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said on Friday.

The driver’s car “collided” with Zuma’s “official armoured state vehicle”, on Thursday, SAPS posted on X. The suspect is to appear in court on Tuesday.