Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has faced a heap of backlash from Jacob Zuma loyalists for apparently leaking the former president’s prison photo on social media.
Justice ministry denies leaking Jacob Zuma prison photo
For the first time since he was whisked away in a presidential motorcade on Wednesday evening, South Africans got a peep of Zuma inside the Estcourt Correctional Services centre where he is due to serve his 15-month prison term.
The snapshot, showing the president being briefed by a correctional services official, was posted by an individual who claimed that Lamola had allegedly ” sent this image to journalists to publish in order to humiliate [former] President Zuma.”
However, the minister’s office has vehemently shot down this claim, stressing that it’s fake news. Justice Ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri confirmed that Lamola had nothing to do with this leak and if anything, the person who snuck their phone out to take the picture is being sought and “will be held accountable.”
Fake news. Pictures of offenders without their consent is prohibited. If this picture is authentic the individual who took the picture will be held accountable. https://t.co/TfeF89iOiS
— Chrispin Phiri (@Chrispin_JPhiri) July 8, 2021
What’s the latest on Zuma?
Lamola addressed the media on Thursday to provide updates on the state of the former president. He revealed that after a brief chat with the 79-year-old, he confirmed that Zuma was in high spirits and at ease with his fate.
“The former president will be placed in isolation for 14 days. Furthermore, he will be assessed by our medical team in conjunction with the South African health ministry services and this will determine the decision of his incarceration. This assessment is done to determine the risks and needs of the offender,” he explained.
By the looks of it, if Zuma’s court bids don’t yield the desired results, he could be out of prison as early as November 2021. Lamola explained that offenders convicted of sentences less than 24 months were not eligible for day parole.
However, under certain conditions, the former president could only spend a quarter of his 15-month stint. That. of course, is contingent on the outcome of his medical assessment.
For all that is known, Zuma could be determined unfit to be detained in prison and may be ordered to serve his term under more suitable conditions.
“This is not a moment of celebration or triumphalism, it is a moment of restraint and to be human,” Lamola said.
