South Africa’s jailed former President, Jacob Zuma, who was recently relocated from prison to a health facility, has undergone surgery and will remain in the hospital for further medical procedures, the government said.
In a statement, the correctional services department announced that “Mr Zuma underwent a surgical procedure on Saturday, 14 August 2021, with other procedures scheduled for the coming days” and added that it could not predict a discharge date yet.
Zuma was admitted to the hospital for diagnosis recently for an undisclosed condition, and he has been held there.
His corruption trial over an arms deal which dates back to over two decades was recently postponed to next month pending a medical report declaring his fitness for trial. His legal team was directed by the judge to tender a medical report by August 20.
The prosecutors may seek the service of a doctor of their choice to assess whether Zuma is fit to stand trial.
Zuma began serving a 15-month jail sentence in a separate case last month for snubbing a commission probing state corruption under his 2009-2018 presidency.
