Play open cards about Zuma’s so-called terminal illness

24 August 2021

The fact that former President Jacob Zuma's doctors failed to submit a medical report on his alleged condition to the court on time in the arms scandal case creates suspicion and raises the question of whether Zuma really is as sick as is being alleged as well as whether he really has been suffering from a life-threatening illness these past 18 months.

When Zuma turned himself in to the police and was taken to the Estcourt Correctional Centre, the FF Plus immediately raised the issue of whether he would be treated the same as any other prisoner or receive preferential treatment and serve his prison time in a hospital.

As is evident from the Schabir Shaik case, hospitalisation amid allegations of a serious illness is an easy way to avoid serving one's prison sentence.

In Zuma's case, he was initially only taken to hospital for a routine medical examination, but yesterday, a spokesperson of the Department of Correctional Services (Singabakho Nxumalo) confirmed to the media that Zuma has since not been returned to the Estcourt Correctional Centre to serve his time.

The FF Plus demands that Zuma's exact medical condition must be disclosed at once. And if it is not serious, he must immediately be returned to prison.

Then the hearing must also proceed as soon as possible seeing as the court did indeed afford Zuma a reasonable opportunity to submit a comprehensive report on his alleged ill health.

The law in this case may not be undermined by means of false allegations of so-called terminal illnesses, like it was in Shaik's case where such allegations afforded him a free pardon to enjoy his freedom and play golf for the rest of his life.

Issued by Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus leader, 24 August 2021