By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former president Jacob Zuma has been released from prison on medical parole, the department of correctional services confirmed on Sunday.
In a statement released on Sunday afternoon, the department said: “Medical parole’s eligibility for Mr Zuma is impelled by a medical report received by the Department of Correctional Services. Apart from being terminally ill and physically incapacitated, inmates suffering from an illness that severely limits their daily activity or self-care can also be considered for medical parole.”
Zuma’s medical parole means that he will complete the remainder of the sentence in the system of community corrections, according to the statement.
“He must comply with [a] specific set of conditions and will be subjected to supervision until his sentence expires.”
The former president is obligated to comply with specific set of conditions and will be subjected to supervision until his sentence expires.
The Constitutional Court sentenced Zuma for contempt of court after he refused to testify before the state capture commission of inquiry chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
Zuma has only spent two months of his 15-month-jail term.
Businessman and Zuma’s former close associate Schabir Shaik was also released on similar parole after he was sentenced to 15 years for corruption in 2005.
Shaik was released on medical parole in 2009, two years after Zuma ascended to the country’s helm.
Zuma has spent weeks of incarceration in the medical wing of the Estcourt Correctional Services before he was moved to an external hospital for further treatment.
The Department of Correctional Services indicated at the time that the decision to take Zuma for hospitalisation was made after a “routine observation”.