Zuma Granted Leave to Appeal Order to Return to Jail

Former President Jacob Zuma has been granted leave to appeal a High Court ruling instructing him to return to prison.

Zuma was sentenced in June to 15 months in prison for contempt of court after ignoring instructions to participate in a corruption inquiry.

Judge Elias Matojane said the case raised “an important question public law” the correct interpretation of parole legislation.

He said he also thought another court may come to a different view on his order that the time Zuma had spent on medical parole should not be counted as part of his sentence.

Last week, the High Court ruled that the decision by then Correctional Services National Commissioner Arthur Fraser to place the former leader on medical parole was unlawful.