The Pretoria High Court has granted former President Jacob Zuma leave to appeal its decision that his medical parole was unlawful.
The decision comes after Zuma was ordered to go back to jail as of Wednesday, December 15. According to the ruling, Arthur Fraser’s decision to place Zuma on medical parole on September 5 was reviewed and declared unlawful.
“It is hereby directed that the third respondent be returned to the custody of the department of correctional services to serve out the remainder of his sentence of imprisonment.
“It is declared that the time the third respondent was out of jail on medical parole should not be counted for the fulfilment of the third respondent’s sentence of 15 months imposed by the Constitutional Court,” the judgment read.
Also read: Former president Jacob Zuma placed on medical parole
However, after hearing Zuma’s arguments this week, judge Elias Matojane indicated that another court may find Zuma’s illness and age require he be treated with some empathy, Times Live reported.
Judge Matojane has given a number of reasons for allowing an appeal against his ruling that former President Zuma return to jail.
Here he talks about another court potentially finding that Zuma should be treated with compassion because of his age and ill health: pic.twitter.com/eI0sJEDKof— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) December 21, 2021
Matojane grants leave as:
– important to have certainty on how medical parole can be granted (under the Correctional Services Act)
– another court may come to different decision on his ruling that time Zuma served on medical parole should not be counted as part of his sentence— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) December 21, 2021
Zuma was sentenced by the Constitutional Court in June to 15 months imprisonment for contempt of court. His sentence is unsuspended, which means he would serve jail time.
Read more:
Jacob Zuma instructed to go back to prison as medical parole was deemed unlawful
Picture: Cape{town}etc gallery