Former president Jacob Zuma is currently unwell and seeking medical assistance in Moscow, Russia. Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi confirmed that Zuma was in Moscow for medical check-ups and that he had not been feeling well.
Court Ruling
This news comes as the Constitutional Court dismissed the Department of Correctional Services’ application for leave to appeal a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling that Zuma must go back to prison. The Constitutional Court stated that an appeal had “no reasonable prospects of success,” meaning that the November judgment of the SCA stands.
Zuma’s Trip
Two sources with direct knowledge of Zuma’s trip said that he had left on Monday for Moscow, where he was receiving medical treatment. He flew commercially to Russia, accompanied by six VIP protectors paid for by the state. He is expected to return to South Africa next week.
Zuma’s History with Russian Healthcare
Zuma has long relied on the Russian healthcare system, ever since he was allegedly poisoned in 2014.
Zuma’s Sentence
Zuma was jailed in July 2021 for 15 months for contempt of the Constitutional Court after he refused to obey an order to appear before the Zondo Commission. However, hardly two months later, he was released on medical parole after the then-national commissioner of correctional services, Arthur Fraser, overruled the Medical Parole Advisory Board’s recommendation that the former president did not qualify for it.
Foundation’s Response
Manyi said that the foundation would not comment on the Constitutional Court decision. He stated that it was only DCS that appealed the SCA judgment and that Zuma only applied for leave to intervene as an interested party if the appeal was to take place.