Newly released records from the United States Department of Justice have confirmed that former South African president Jacob Zuma attended a private dinner arranged by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein during an official state visit to the United Kingdom in 2010.
The documents, made public in January, form part of millions of pages of correspondence linked to Epstein and shed fresh light on his interactions with global political figures before his death.
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Epstein Dinner Took Place During Zuma’s UK State Visit
Zuma travelled to the UK from March 3 to March 5 2010 on a formal state visit at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II. During the three-day trip, he stayed at Buckingham Palace and attended official banquets, bilateral meetings and parliamentary engagements.
His itinerary included talks with then British prime minister Gordon Brown, meetings with Lord Peter Mandelson and the Prince of Wales, as well as delivering a keynote address to the UK parliament. Zuma’s final official engagement was a meeting with non-governmental organisations at South Africa House on March 5.
Emails contained in the Epstein records show that later that same evening, a dinner was arranged in Zuma’s honour at the Ritz Hotel in London.
One email dated March 4 2010 reads: “I have been asked to help arrange a small dinner tomorrow night for President Jacob Zuma of South Africa at the Ritz Hotel at 7pm.”
The message was sent by Mark Lloyd, who is identified in the correspondence as assisting Epstein with event logistics.
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Emails Detail Guests and Post-Dinner Reactions
The documents show that a Russian model was invited to attend the dinner. In her response, she confirmed her attendance and asked whether a cocktail dress would be appropriate.
In a follow-up email sent on March 6, Lloyd provided Epstein with feedback on the event, describing the model as “magnificent” and commenting on Zuma’s demeanour during the dinner.
He wrote that Zuma “displayed more gravitas and none of the macho bluster he is generally portrayed as having by the tabloid press”.
Epstein also alerted Mandelson to the planned dinner, stating: “Mark Lloyd is having dinner for Zuma tomorrow night at the Ritz. I have invited a beautiful Russian named [redacted] to attend.”
The released documents do not indicate whether Mandelson attended the dinner.
Jacob Zuma Foundation Rejects ‘Guilt by Association’ Claims
Separate correspondence made public earlier shows Epstein transferred £10,000 (R221,298) to Mandelson’s partner, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, in 2009, while Mandelson was serving as the UK’s business secretary. The transfer is not linked to Zuma.
Following a report by the Daily Maverick detailing the dinner, the Jacob Zuma Foundation issued a strong rebuttal, rejecting the implications drawn from the disclosures.
Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said: “The so-called ‘revelation’ published by Daily Maverick is a textbook example of agenda-driven journalism built on innuendo, third-party emails and retrospective guilt by association.
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“At no point does the article allege, let alone establish, any unlawful or improper conduct by Jacob Zuma. The attempt to smear President Zuma by proximity to the unrelated crimes of a third party is unethical, irresponsible and intellectually dishonest. The Jacob Zuma Foundation will not participate in speculative narrative-building disguised as investigative journalism. The matter is closed.”
There has been no prior evidence suggesting a personal relationship between Zuma and Epstein. The documents indicate that Zuma encountered Epstein in his capacity as president during the official London visit.
Zuma’s name appears alongside other South African references in the Epstein files, including Juliette Bryant, who has publicly said she was groomed by Epstein after meeting him in South Africa.
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