“The GOAT Is Back”: Jacob Zuma’s Training Footage Makes the Rounds Amid Health Concerns

• A video of former President Jacob Zuma working out at his Nkandla home surfaced on Instagram on 15 October 2026
• Zuma was filmed lifting light green dumbbells in dark athletic wear, smiling and laughing throughout the session
• The clip drew a wave of reactions from South Africans, ranging from political humour to heartfelt well-wishes

Former President Jacob Zuma raised a few eyebrows and more than a few laughs when a gym video filmed at his Nkandla home in KwaZulu-Natal began circulating on Instagram on 15 October 2026. In the clip, shared on Instagram by account @newsnexussa, the 82-year-old was dressed in dark athletic wear, lifting light green dumbbells in what appeared to be a lighthearted workout session.

He performed overhead arm raises while smiling and exchanging laughs with someone off-camera whose voice sounded similar to that of his daughter Duduzile, who encouraged him throughout. At the end of the set, Msholozi cheerfully announced he had completed a hundred repetitions.

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Nkandla workout goes viral

The footage resurfaced at a time when many South Africans have been following news about Zuma's health, making the sight of him exercising with apparent ease all the more striking for his supporters and critics alike. Reactions to the video were swift and sharply divided. Some viewers saw the lighter side of things, while others used the moment to take political jabs. A handful of commenters also pointed out concerns about his lifting form, though all in good humour.

Watch the Nkandla gym Instagram clip that set social media alight below:

Mzansi reacts to former president's gym session

South Africans flooded the comments with their thoughts:

@chilidzimatodzi wrote:

"The GOAT is back 😂."

@patrick_josephza said:

"A dumbbell lifting dumbbells. Interesting."

@mpho.sm shared:

"Hate him, love him 😂 it's not over until the Almighty says so 🙏."

@sandiso_macingwane declared:

"The coolest president 🔥🍻😂."

@nelly00790 added:

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"It's not over until God says it's over 🙏❤️."

@justmashaba said:

"Get well, my president 🥰💪."

3 Brief News articles about Jacob Zuma

• Former President Jacob Zuma attended the University of KwaZulu-Natal's graduation ceremony to cheer on his granddaughter, Mpilo Zondi, as she earned her Bachelor of Social Sciences degree.
• Grade R learners amused South Africans after dressing up as the country's democratic presidents in a school presentation that poked fun at Jacob Zuma's famous number-reading blunders.
• MK party leader Jacob Zuma's granddaughter shared a playful moment quizzing him on historical figures like Jan van Riebeeck before proudly introducing him as her grandfather.

Source: Briefly News