Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been released from prison following the expiry of his prison sentence for contempt of court, a government department said on Friday, reported The Africa News.
“Mr Zuma complied with his conditions for medical parole as set out during his placement,” the Correctional Services department said in a statement.
“All administrative processes have now been concluded and the sentence expiry date marks the end of him serving his sentence under community corrections.”
The court ordered a 15-month sentence to the former president last year for defying a Constitutional Court order to appear before a judicial commission investigating corruption during his presidential term from 2009 to 2018. He was first indicted on 20 June 2005.
In July, he handed himself to the police to begin his sentence, triggering the worst violence in South Africa. His jailing sparked riots that turned into mass looting and left more than 300 people dead in one of the worst violence reported in South Africa. It is estimated that the riots and looting resulted in $1.7bn damage in property losses.
In a statement, Zuma said he felt relieved to be freed from the jail and thanked his supporters. He said the messages of support on various social media platforms kept him strong and focused on ensuring that those who wanted to break his spirit and resolve do not succeed.
The 80-year-old former South African president was granted parole on health conditions after he was admitted in the hospital for an undisclosed condition. But in December, the South African high court set aside the parole decision and ordered him to return to jail. Zuma appealed the court’s ruling and remained on parole pending the appeal outcome.
Last month, the former president announced he was willing to make a political comeback at the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party’s internal conference in December.
