Zuma: Ex-president released on medical parole

SOUTH AFRICA

Jacob Zuma will complete remainder of 15-month prison sentence in system of community corrections, says Department of Correctional Services.

Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been released from prison on medical parole, prison authorities have confirmed.

Zuma, 79, was sentenced to a 15-month prison sentence two months ago by the country’s Constitutional Court for contempt after he refused to appear before a judicial commission probing corruption during his nearly decade-long presidency.

The former president began his sentence on July 8 at the Estcourt prison in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province, about 180km (110 miles) northwest of Durban, before he was admitted to a hospital where he later underwent surgery.

Two weeks later, he was allowed to leave prison to attend his brother’s funeral at his Nkandla rural home.

“Medical parole placement for Zuma means that he will complete the remainder of the sentence in the system of community corrections, whereby he must comply with a specific set of conditions and will be subjected to supervision until his sentence expires,” the Department of Correctional Services said in a statement late on Sunday.

The department said the decision was impelled by a medical report it received.

“Apart from being terminally ill and physically incapacitated, inmates suffering from an illness that severely limits their daily activity or self-care can also be considered for medical parole,” it said.