The Department of Correctional Services confirmed on Friday, August 6, that the imprisoned former president Jacob Zuma has been admitted to a hospital for medical observation.
#JacobZuma admitted to outside hospital. Will he be well enough to attend the trial in open court – on which he insisted – next week? pic.twitter.com/m0rKg0SCKy
— OUTA (@OUTASA) August 6, 2021
The 79-year-old is currently serving a 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court at the Estcourt prison in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). According to IOL, the Department of Correctional Services indicated that the health of inmates is addressed under Section 35(2) of the Constitution which obliges the Department to ensure that every prisoner that is detained, including every sentenced prisoner, has the right to conditions of detention that are consistent with human dignity including medical treatment.
Meanwhile, Zuma’s hospitalisation comes days before his corruption trial is set to resume on Tuesday, August 10, after he requested to have the case postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent unrest in KZN.
Since then, the Jacob Zuma Foundation has confirmed that former President Jacob Zuma is attending his annual medical routine check-up, and there is “no need to be alarmed.”
The Foundation confirms the statement by Correctional Services that indeed H.E President Zuma is in Hospital outside the prison.
The 79 year old, 1st prisoner of the ConCourt, jailed without trial is attending to his annual medical routine check up. No need to be alarmed,…yet.— JGZuma Foundation (Official) (@JGZ_Foundation) August 6, 2021
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Picture: Cape{town} etc gallery