Jacob Zuma to go back to jail

Court orders former South African President, Jacob Zuma to be returned to prison, saying his medical parole was “unlawful”. Jacob Zuma was released from Prison on 5 September due to an undisclosed medical condition.

During his presidency, He was jailed for failing to attend an inquiry into corruption. Ex president Zuma handed himself over to the police in July. However, his jailing sparked violent protest and looting which caused the death of more than 300 people, mostly in Zuma’s stronghold of KwaZulu-Natal province.

Zuma is also facing a separate corruption and fraud trial related to an arms deal in the late 1990s. According to Zuma, he is the victim of a political conspiracy.

Prison authorities stated that his release on parole was compelled by a medical report, but his ailment has never been disclosed. However, he did undergo surgery after he was imprisoned.

The former President’s lawyers argued that their client’s illness had rendered him incapacitated due to the imprisonment. South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, welcomed Wednesday’s ruling. The leader of the opposition party, John Steenhuisen said, ‘This is a big victory for the rule of the law and the principle of equality before the law.’

The former President’s lawyers have appealed against the court order, so there is no immediate prospect of him returning to prison.