South African ex-president Zuma visits Russia for ‘health reasons’

Former South African president Jacob Zuma is currently in Russia for medical treatment, according to his spokesman.

This comes after the country’s highest court upheld a ruling that Zuma should return to prison to serve a 15-month term for contempt of court.

Zuma’s trip to Russia was described as private and not a secret, and he will return to South Africa once his treatment is completed.

It remains unclear whether he will be taken back into custody upon his return.

Zuma, who served as president from 2009 to 2018, has faced numerous corruption charges and was previously sentenced in June 2021 for refusing to testify before a corruption inquiry.