South Africa's Zuma Returns to Jail, Then Released

Former president Jacob Zuma has been sent back to prison - and then released. Correctional Services National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale announced this at an early morning briefing on Friday August 11, 2023.

In a live update, Karyn Maughan said: "Thobakgale says that a decision was taken that Zuma should be admitted into the Estcourt facility. He was then subjected to the remission system that 'applies to all other prisoners'. He has been released." This followed a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling that Zuma should complete a 15-month sentence, which was handed to him for refusing to give evidence at the state capture inquiry,

Zuma recently returned to South Africa following a trip to Moscow seeking medical treatment for an unknown condition.

He was initially imprisoned in July 2021 for refusing to obey a court order to appear before a commission of inquiry into the government and private sector corruption which flourished during his presidency. He was admitted to an outside hospital for medical observation.

Zuma's jailing triggered widespread violence in two of South Africa's provinces. Looters vandalised shopping malls, other retail outlets, businesses, factories and infrastructure with over 1,000 people arrested as a result.