Jacob Zuma, the former president of South Africa, was awarded remission status and is no longer required to serve any time behind bars.
Low-risk and non-violent offenders are given remission status.
According to Ronald Lamola, minister of justice, the decision to remit fines was made to ease prison congestion. According to him, the “remission process” began in April.
According to South Africa’s Commissioner of Prisons Makgothi Thobakgale, Zuma turned himself in at the Escourt prison in KwaZulu-Natal at 0600 local time (0400 GMT) on Friday and was “admitted” into the system.
After an hour, he was freed via a unique remission procedure. President Cyril Ramaphosa granted more than 9,00 low-risk inmates remission status.
In June 2021, Zuma was given a 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court after refusing to give a statement to a tribunal looking into financial corruption and cronyism during his administration.
But only two months into his sentence, he was released on medical parole.
More than 350 people were killed in the riots and looting that followed his imprisonment.
In November of last year, an appeals court ruled that Zuma’s release had been improperly granted and sent him back to prison to complete his sentence. The constitutional court rejected a motion to reverse this judgment last month.
