Politics

South Africa: Court faults Zuma’s medical parole, insists ex-president must return to jail

Published

1 year ago

July 13, 2023

A South African court has upheld a ruling that sent former president, Jacob Zuma to jail after he was released early on medical parole.

A statement by the Department of Correctional Services says the court ruling is being studied by it and that legal advice is being sought.

Zuma’s camp has also declined to comment directly on the ruling, and referred any questions to the department, noting that prison officials had sought the review.

Zuma’s corruption trial began in May 2021, with the 80-year-old politician accused of taking bribes from French defence group, Thales in a case that dates back more than 20 years ago.

In July 2021, the former president was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment after repeatedly ignoring a court order to testify at a government inquiry into large-scale corruption during his tenure as president. He was later granted parole months later for medical attention.

But the country’s Supreme Court of Appeal ruled in November that the decision to release ex-president Jacob Zuma on early medical parole was “unlawful” and that he should return to prison to finish his sentence for contempt of court.

The National Commissioner of Correctional Services appealed the decision, but the Constitutional Court has now maintained that the appeal should be dismissed because it had “no reasonable chances of success.”

Parole is the release of a prisoner to supervision in the community after he/she has completed a part of his/her sentence.

Zuma was South African president from 2009 to 2018.

Related Topics:Featured Jacob Zuma South Africa

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

4 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.