Jacob Zuma Secretly Returns From Russia

Jacob Zuma, the former president of South Africa, has recently returned to the country after receiving medical treatment in Russia for several weeks.

The announcement of his return was made by the Jacob Zuma Foundation, which he is a patron of, on Wednesday morning. However, the exact date of his return to the country was not specified.

“The JG Zuma Foundation is glad to announce that its patron has recently returned from his medically-related trip to the Russian Federation,” it said.

“The check-up and observations went well.”

The foundation said that Zuma thanked all those who kept him in their prayers.

“He wishes to thank all the progressive South African citizens and organisations who sent him good wishes and prayers during this period.”

JUST IN: The Jacob Zuma Foundation says former President Jacob Zuma is back in S. Africa after treatment in Russia. It said his return has to do with the fact that he should be present at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday where he has initiated a private prosecution. @IOL

— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) August 2, 2023

It said his return has to do with the fact that he should be present at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday where he has initiated a private prosecution.

“His return was also necessitated by the private prosecution matter which will be sitting in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday August 4,” the foundation said.

“In terms of the law it is compulsory for the private prosecutor to appear whenever the accused persons appear in terms of the summons or as ordered by a judge.”

The foundation declined to comment on Zuma’s parole status amidst mounting pressure from the Democratic Alliance to incarcerate him following the Constitutional Court’s ruling last month.

The Department of Correctional Services sought to appeal the ruling that Zuma’s medical parole release in September 2021 was unlawful, but the appeal and Zuma’s application to intervene were deemed unlikely to succeed.

Therefore, it is possible that Zuma may be sent back to jail, but no specific timeline has been given. In July 2021, Zuma was initially imprisoned for failing to obey the court’s directive to testify before the Zondo Commission.

His incarceration triggered unrest, resulting in the looting and burning of businesses in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, as well as over 350 fatalities.

However, in September, the then Commissioner of Correctional Services, Arthur Fraser, granted him medical parole and released him after just three months of his 15-month sentence.

Nonetheless, the DA, Helen Suzman Foundation and AfriForum challenged the ruling in court and emerged victorious, resulting in Zuma’s release being deemed illegal.

Recently, the Department of Correctional Services requested that Zuma present his case to the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Makgothi Thobakgale, before a decision is reached on his parole.