Court Orders Ex-South Africa President Zuma Back To Jail

Jacob Zuma

Ex-South African President, Jacob Zuma has been ordered by a High court to return to prison after setting aside the decision to release him on medical parole, a court judgement showed on Wednesday.

The 79-year old began medical parole in September and is serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court after he ignored instructions to participate in a corruption inquiry.

The legal processes against Zuma for alleged corruption during his nine-year reign are widely viewed as a test of post-apartheid South Africa’s ability to enforce rule of law, particularly against powerful, well-connected people.

Zuma handed himself in on July 7 to begin his prison sentence, triggering the worst violence South Africa had seen in years, as angry Zuma supporters took to the streets.

The Department of Correctional Services said it was studying the judgement, and in due course, will make further pronouncements.