South Africa's jailed ex-President Zuma undergoes surgery

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - Jailed former South African President Jacob Zuma has undergone surgery at a hospital outside the Estcourt prison facility where he is serving a 15-month sentence, officials said on Sunday.

In a statement, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said the former president was also scheduled to undergo other procedures in the coming days and, therefore, could not predict a date for his discharge from the hospital.

"We appeal to all people to refrain from speculating on the health of Zuma and allow medical practitioners space to continue providing quality healthcare to him," the statement said.

Zuma, 79, was hospitalized about two weeks ago, a day after a high court in the southeastern city of Pietermaritzburg ruled he would be allowed out of jail to attend his long-running corruption case in person rather than by video link.

Last week, the court postponed the corruption trial to Sept. 9, following his hospitalization.

The former president is jointly accused with French arms firm Thales and is facing 18 charges, including corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion racketeering linked to a $2.5 billion arms deal in the late 1990s.

Zuma and Thales have denied any wrongdoing.

Charges against Zuma were dropped in 2009 by former National Prosecuting Authority head Mokotedi Mpshe weeks before he was elected president.

They were, however, reinstated in 2018, marking one of the longest-running legal battles in the country.

Zuma is currently serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court and his detention led to riots and looting. The riots claimed more than 200 lives and damages are estimated in the billions of South African rands.