Former president Jacob Zuma is reportedly ill and receiving medical help in Moscow.
Mzwanele Manyi, spokesperson for the Jacob Zuma Foundation, confirmed to News24 on Friday that the former president left for Moscow on Monday where he is currently receiving medical treatment.
According to the report, Zuma flew to Russia on a commercial flight, accompanied by six VIP bodyguards for which the taxpayer has to pay. According to Manyi, Zuma was feeling unwell and had to undergo medical examinations.
He is expected to return to South Africa next week.
The former president’s visit to Russia comes in the same week that the Constitutional Court rejected, with costs, the Department of Correctional Services’ (DKD) application for leave to appeal against a court decision that Zuma must go back to prison.
Zuma was released on medical parole in September 2021 after he was earlier found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to 15 months in prison due to his failure to appear before the Zondo Commission after state capture.
The Court of Appeal ruled in November last year that this parole was unlawfully and unconstitutionally granted to him and that he must go back to prison for a period of time, as determined by the DCD.
The DCD unsuccessfully applied to appeal this ruling.
