Former South African President Jacob Zuma was briefly returned to prison in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, August 11th, complying with the Court of Appeal’s ruling that his medical parole release was unlawful. However, he was set free just an hour later under a remission process to reduce prison overcrowding.
The 81-year-old former president, who led South Africa from 2008 to 2018, was admitted to the Estcourt correctional detention facility at 6 a.m. local time.
Zuma’s original 15-month prison sentence began in July 2021, following a charge of contempt of court for defying a summons to appear at an inquiry into corruption during his time in office. This initial arrest led to violent protests across South Africa, resulting in more than 350 deaths.
In September 2021, the correctional services department released Zuma on medical parole due to poor health. However, this decision was overturned in November by the Court of Appeal.
Upon returning to prison, Zuma was swiftly released under President Cyril Ramaphosa’s policy of granting remission to nonviolent offenders to reduce prison overcrowding.
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola explained that Zuma was given remission as part of a scheme that began in April to release more than 9,000 low-risk prisoners to make space in South African prisons.
Lamola stated, “Prison overcrowding poses a direct threat to inmate health, security, and management, and it could lead to a surge in gangsterism. More importantly, it hampers the department’s ability to provide development and rehabilitation programs.”
Minister further assured that the decision had been made without any political influence and that Zuma had not been treated specially.
Reacting to the decision, Lobby group AfriForum accused the prisons department of helping Zuma evade justice, while South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, announced plans to challenge the remission granted to the former president.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal, however, welcomed the decision, seeing it in the country’s best interest.
