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Zuma not ill, looking forward to court appearance next week – Zuma foundation

Former president Jacob Zuma.

Former president Jacob Zuma.
Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images.
  • Jacob Zuma has been admitted to hospital for a routine check-up.
  • The former president is expected to appear in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg next week.
  • The court appearance is for his plea hearing.

Imprisoned former president Jacob Zuma is not ill and has no intention of skipping his court appearance next week in his corruption trial, according to the Jacob Zuma Foundation.

On Friday, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said Zuma, who is serving a 15-month prison sentence at the Estcourt Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal for contempt of court, was admitted to an outside hospital for medical observation.

DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said that as a former president, the healthcare needs of Zuma require the involvement of the South African Military Health Services and added that this has been the case since his admission to the Estcourt Correctional Centre.

 

“A routine observation prompted that Mr Zuma be taken for in-hospitalisation,” he added.

Commenting on the development, Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said the former president was taken to hospital for his “normal annual medical check-up”.

“Whether in prison or not, he would have been due for that check-up,” Manyi added.

He said Zuma was not ill and added that the foundation would issue a statement once the check-up was completed and a medical report was received.

Guns blazing

Manyi added that Zuma was looking forward to his court appearance in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday for his plea hearing.

He said the hospital admission was not a ploy aimed at missing the court appearance and added that Zuma could not afford to be sick because he had a lot to share in court.

“One of the reasons he is looking forward to this [is that] for all these years he has been rubbished as this corrupt person. Now the truth will be told,” Manyi said.

Manyi added:

He is going guns blazing.

 

Manyi added that Zuma would make oral submissions at the High Court.

Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority has said it would monitor the situation until the court date.

The plea hearing was expected to be heard virtually, but Zuma’s legal team successfully argued that this would violate his right to a fair trial.

News24 previously reported that Judge Pete Koen issued a directive that stated that the matter would proceed in an open court.

In May this year, Zuma pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, including corruption, fraud, racketeering, and money laundering related to an arms deal.

After a protracted legal battle, Zuma is expected to answer to 16 charges relating to the 783 payments he allegedly received from his former financial advisor, Schabir Shaik, and a R500 000-a-year bribe that the State claims Shaik facilitated for him from French arms company Thales.

Thales is also on trial as Zuma’s co-accused.

NEWS24.COM

 

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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