JOHANNESBURG – Former South African President Jacob Zuma was released from the Estcourt correctional facility on Friday morning under a remission process, as confirmed by a senior prisons official.
The move comes in the wake of a constitutional court ruling that upheld a lower court’s decision, declaring Zuma’s release on medical parole as unlawful and ordering him to return to prison to complete his 15-month sentence.
Zuma’s original incarceration two years ago triggered widespread and violent protests throughout South Africa, resulting in the tragic loss of over 300 lives.
The 81-year-old former president had been sentenced for contempt of court, stemming from his refusal to comply with a court order to participate in a corruption inquiry that investigated high-level corruption during his nine-year tenure as the country’s leader.
Zuma voluntarily surrendered himself to authorities in July 2021, but due to health concerns, he was granted medical parole just two months later.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Zuma has consistently denied any allegations of corruption.
The release under the remission process marks a significant development in the complex legal saga surrounding Jacob Zuma’s imprisonment, reigniting debates around accountability, governance, and the rule of law in South Africa.
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