The foundation of South Africa’s ex-President Jacob Zuma has stated that he is currently in Moscow, the capital of Russia, for reasons related to his health.
“He will be returning to [South Africa] once his doctors have completed their treatment,” a statement from the Jacob G Zuma foundation continued.
Zuma departed for Russia on a commercial flight last week, according to Mzwanele Manyi, the spokesperson for his foundation. This is not the first time Zuma has sought medical treatment in Russia, as he previously visited in 2014 after an alleged poisoning incident.
On Thursday, the Constitutional Court declared that Zuma’s medical parole had been granted unlawfully.
The parole had been authorized by Arthur Fraser, the former head of the prison service, who is considered an ally of Zuma.
In September 2021, Zuma was released after serving less than eight weeks of a 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court, stemming from his refusal to cooperate with an anti-corruption investigation during his presidency.
The Department of Correctional Services has indicated that it is reviewing the Constitutional Court’s ruling and will provide further comments after seeking legal advice.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), the main opposition party, has expressed support for the court’s decision, asserting that it confirms Zuma’s rightful place in jail.