Former South African president Jacob Zuma has been set free following the expiry of his prison sentence for contempt of court, the government department said on Friday.
Zuma received a 15-month sentence last year after he ignored instructions to participate in a corruption inquiry. Read full story
He handed himself in on July 7 last year to begin his sentence, triggering the worst violence South Africa had seen in years as his angry supporters took to the streets.
"It's OFFICIAL. H.E President Zuma is now a FREE man," the Jacob Zuma Foundation said in a tweet.
Zuma was released on medical parole in September 2021. But in December, the high court set aside the parole decision and ordered him to return to jail. Zuma appealed the ruling and remained on parole pending the appeal outcome. Read full story
His appeal had not been determined by the time his sentence expired.
"Mr Zuma complied with his conditions for medical parole as set out during his placement," the Correctional Services department said in a statement.
"All administrative processes have now been concluded and the sentence expiry date marks the end of him serving his sentence under community corrections."
Trump extols America, rails at communism in US 250th celebration
Zelenskyy denies Russian capture of key eastern city Kostiantynivka
Keiko Fujimori declared winner of Peru presidential race
Ukrainian rescuers clear rubble as Kyiv mourns 30 killed in Russian attack
Monaco blast suspect is a Ukrainian woman who fled to Germany
Clinical trials begin for two potential Ebola treatments
India issues notice to Telegram, Signal on concerns over usernames, source says
Blast at Damascus cafe kills nine, wounds 20
