By Riches Soberekon
Jacob Zuma, the former president of South Africa, is in Russia for health reasons, and is expected to return when his doctors have completed his treatment.
The trip, which was aboard a commercial flight, was not secret, but it was not widely publicized either. The news of Zuma’s trip was first reported in the local press.
Zuma’s trip comes just days after the South African Supreme Court upheld his 15-month sentence for contempt of court. The court rejected an appeal asking that Zuma be spared from returning to prison.
It is unclear whether Zuma’s trip to Russia will have any impact on his legal case. The prison services have said that they will study the Supreme Court ruling and seek a legal opinion before taking any action.
Zuma was sentenced to prison in June 2021 for refusing to answer questions from a commission investigating corruption during his presidency. His imprisonment sparked several days of riots in South Africa, which left more than 350 people dead.
Zuma was released on parole after two months for medical reasons. However, the details of his health condition have not been made public.
Zuma has close ties to Russia. During his presidency, he visited Russia several times and met with President Vladimir Putin.
The relationship between South Africa and Russia dates back to the apartheid era, when the Soviet Union provided support to the African National Congress (ANC) in its fight against the racist regime.
Zuma is a controversial figure in South Africa. He has been accused of corruption and mismanagement during his time in office. However, he remains a popular figure among some sections of the population.
