(Politics): The Supreme Court of Appeal in South Africa Orders Jacob Zuma back to Jail

The former South Africa's president Jacob Zuma, an octogenarian, who has officially finished serving a 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court, has to go back to prison after his conditional release last year on health grounds was contrary to the law. This is according to a new appeal's court ruling on Monday, November 21, 2022.

The 80-year-old was convicted in June 2021 for stubbornly refusing to testify before a commission investigating corruption under his presidency from 2009 to 2018. Which was in a clear contempt of the commission presiding over the issues.

His imprisonment the following month triggered an unprecedented wave of violence and looting, in a tense socio-economic context, leaving 350 people dead. Two months later, he was released for health reasons and placed under judicial supervision.

However, over some months of enjoying his freedom, the Supreme Court of Appeal "considers that Mr. Zuma's conditional release on medical grounds was contrary to the law". Hence, he has to return to prison.  

For some unknown reasons, the head of the prison service had granted parole against the advice of the institution's medical committee. The medical experts had considered that Mr. Zuma "does not meet the required conditions" to be released on health grounds.

According to multiple medical reports cited in the court of appeal's ruling, Zuma suffers from blood pressure problems, high blood sugar levels and severe colon damage. But the head of the prison service was not justified in going against the opinion of the medical panel, the appeal court said. As a result, "Mr. Zuma, by law, has not finished serving his sentence. He must return to the Escourt Correctional Centre" (KwaZulu-Natal, south-east).

The decision comes after prison authorities announced last month that Zuma, who has appeared in public several times, dancing and singing to his supporters, would be finishing his sentence.

What is surprising is, despite the scandals, he is being seen as the biggest political rival to the current president, Cyril Ramaphosa. Jacob Zuma has repeatedly tried to destabilise him by questioning his probity.

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