A South African court has ruled that former President Jacob Zuma must return to prison after declaring his earlier medical parole unlawful and setting aside his release.
Court Rules Medical Parole Was Illegal
The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria found that the decision to grant Zuma medical parole earlier this year was invalid because it went against the recommendation of the medical parole board. The court ruled that Zuma must resume serving his sentence, and that the period he spent outside prison would not count toward his 15-month term.
Zuma was released in September after serving roughly two months for contempt of court, following his refusal to comply with a Constitutional Court order to testify before a commission investigating corruption during his presidency from 2009 to 2018.
Political and Legal Fallout
The ruling is a major setback for Zuma, who is also facing separate corruption charges linked to the 1999 South African arms deal with French defense company Thales. He has pleaded not guilty.
His earlier imprisonment triggered widespread unrest in parts of South Africa, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, where violence, looting, and arson led to more than 300 deaths and significant economic disruption.
South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services said it would review the judgment before commenting further. Zuma’s legal team is expected to appeal the decision, although it remains unclear whether he will voluntarily return to custody while legal processes continue.
The Jacob Zuma Foundation has not yet confirmed whether he will comply with the ruling or challenge it further.
