South Africa’s highest court on Friday rejected an application to annul former President Jacob Zuma’s 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court.
The Constitutional Court’s decision upheld its earlier ruling that Mr Zuma should be jailed for refusing to testify at the Commission of Inquiry into Comprehensive Corruption in Government and State-owned Companies while President of South Africa from 2009-2018 needed.
Mr Zuma was jailed in July, but has since been granted medical parole for an undisclosed illness. His release has been questioned by opposition parties, who say that the procedure was not followed.
Justice Sissi Khumpe read Friday’s ruling at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg. She said upholding Mr Zuma’s sentence was a 7-2 majority decision of the judges. His parole is not affected by the decision.
The 79-year-old former president argued that his sentence was unfair because, among other things, he was jailed without trial.
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