The Department of Correctional Services have freed Jacob Zuma after receiving the medical report, but have not provided further details of the report. The prisons service placed former President Jacob Zuma on medical parole, less than two months into his 15 month sentence for contempt of court.
Under the terms of his medical release, “must comply with a specific set of conditions and will be subjected to supervision until his sentence expires,” the statement read.
Zuma has only spent two months of his 15-month-jail term in jail, after the ConCourt sentenced him for contempt of court when he refused to testify before the state capture commission of inquiry, chaired by Justice Raymond Zondo, who had conflicts of interest and breached Zuma’s humans rights according to Zuma. Most of those two months were in the medical facility.
A former close associate of Zuma, Schabir Shaik was similarly released on medical parole when he was sentenced to 15 years for corruption in 2005. Shaik was released on medical parole in 2009, two years after Zuma ascended to the country’s presidency. Medical parole hase become a favourite amongst ANC stalwarts to literally give their comrades a “get ot of jail free card.”
Correctional services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo explained in the statement that a section of the Correctional Services Act, affords the national commissioner, the responsibility to place under correctional supervision, or day parole, or grant parole, or medical parole to a sentenced offender serving a sentence of incarceration for 24 months or less.
“Arthur Fraser is also empowered to prescribe conditions of parole. Medical parole’s eligibility for Zuma is compelled by a medical report received by the department. 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.
“The risk of re-offending of released inmates must also be low and there must be appropriate arrangements for the inmate’s supervision, care, and treatment within the community to which the inmate is to be released to,” said Nxumalo.
“We want to reiterate that placement on medical parole is an option available to all sentenced offenders provided they meet all the requirements. We appeal to all South Africans to afford Zuma dignity as he continues to receive medical treatment,” said Nxumalo, adding that medical parole could only be revoked if the offender does not comply with the placement conditions.
Listen and Read Also: Who Captured Who? Ramaphosa Complements his Hijacked “Pick ‘n Mix” Zondo Commission on State Capture, which he Hijacked from Zuma!