Reports have emerged confirming that former South African president Jacob Zuma is currently in Moscow, Russia, seeking medical assistance.
UPDATE: On Friday, 11 August 2023, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola confirmed President Jacob Zuma was granted a presidential pardon as part of the ministry’s ‘special remission’ programme.
Is Jacob Zuma in Russia? – Here’s everything we know
This development comes as the Constitutional Court recently dismissed the Department of Correctional Services’ application to appeal a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling, which mandated Zuma’s return to prison.
According to News24, Zuma departed for Moscow on Monday, 10 July 2023, to receive medical treatment.
Mzwanele Manyi, the spokesperson for the Jacob Zuma Foundation, verified Zuma’s presence in Moscow and his intention to seek medical assistance. Zuma has relied on the Russian healthcare system since an alleged poisoning incident in 2014.
The Constitutional Court’s dismissal of the application for leave to appeal Zuma’s medical parole affirmed the SCA’s previous ruling that he had not completed his sentence and must return to Estcourt Correctional Centre.
Zuma was initially imprisoned in July 2021 for 15 months due to contempt of the Constitutional Court, stemming from his refusal to comply with an order to appear before the Zondo Commission.
However, he was released on medical parole just two months later, after Arthur Fraser, the former national commissioner of correctional services, overruled the recommendation of the Medical Parole Advisory Board.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), AfriForum, and the Helen Suzman Foundation sought judicial review of Fraser’s decision, resulting in Judge Elias Matojane declaring it unlawful.
The Jacob Zuma Foundation declined to comment on the Constitutional Court’s decision, clarifying that it was the Department of Correctional Services that appealed the SCA judgment.
In a statement released on Thursday, 13 July 2023, confirmed it was “seeking legal advice and will comment further in due course.”
According to Manyi, Zuma is expected to return to South Africa next week.