Former South African President Jacob Zuma, who has officially finished serving a 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court, must return to bars, his conditional release last year on health grounds being contrary to the law, estimated Monday, November 21 a court of appeal.
The 80-year-old former head of state was sentenced in June 2021 for stubbornly refusing to testify before a commission to investigate corruption under his presidency (2009-2018).
His imprisonment the following month had triggered an unprecedented wave of violence and looting, in a tense socio-economic context, killing 350 people.
Two months later, he was released for health reasons and placed under judicial supervision.
opaque state of health
The Supreme Court of Appeal "
deems that the parole for medical reasons of Jacob Zuma was against the law
", in a decision of which AFP obtained a copy.
The head of prison services had granted conditional release against the advice of the institution's medical committee.
Medical experts had estimated that Jacob Zuma “
does not meet the required conditions
”.
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Jacob Zuma's state of health remains largely opaque.
According to the multiple medical reports cited in the appeals court's decision, he suffers from problems related to blood pressure, high blood sugar levels and severe colon damage.
The head of prison services was not entitled to go against the opinion of the committee of doctors, according to the court of appeal.
As a result, “
Jacob Zuma, by law, has not finished serving his sentence.
He must return to the correctional center of Escourt
” (KwaZulu-Natal, South-East).
great political rival
The move comes as prison authorities announced last month the end of the sentence of Jacob Zuma, who appeared in public several times, dancing and singing in front of his supporters.
He remains perceived, despite the scandals, as the biggest political rival of current President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Less than a month before the conference of the ruling party, the ANC, a crucial deadline for the future of Cyril Ramaphosa at the head of the country, Jacob Zuma has several times tried to destabilize him by questioning his probity.
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The ANC meets from December 16 to choose whether or not to invest Cyril Ramaphosa for a second term in 2024. Elected on the promise to eradicate corruption, he is hampered by a scandal around mysterious wads of banknotes discovered during of a burglary at one of his properties.