Cape Town – The Jacob Zuma Foundation has reportedly refused to reveal details of when the former president will be discharged from hospital, but confirmed that a thanksgiving prayer reception event will be held in his honour.
According to EWN, the foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi, Zuma’s discharge date would not be disclosed due to security concerns.
“The whereabouts of his excellency, President Zuma, have become a security issue. Whenever he leaves the hospital, we will not announce it, so maybe the first time you hear he’s been at one of these receptions things is when he goes to one of them,” the report quoted Manyi as saying.
Zuma, who was jailed for 15 months for contempt of court after snubbing graft investigators, was on September 5, granted medical parole.
The 79-year-old has been hospitalised since August 6 at a health facility outside the prison where he had been incarcerated for ignoring a court order to testify before a judicial panel probing corruption during his nine-year tenure which lasted until 2018.
National commissioner of correctional services Arthur Fraser admitted during an interview with SABC’s Vuyo Mvoko that he alone decided to grant medical parole to Zuma.
Reports indicated that welcome home rallies and prayers had been planned for Zuma’s return to his home in Nkandla.
According to IOL, Zuma’s supporters were already waiting to hear when he will leave the hospital.
“We are aware that some of our members on the ground are keen and ready to host rallies to welcome president Zuma home… We support that, we are on record saying we support president Zuma and we support his medical parole.
“So, we will make all the necessary arrangements on the ground to welcome him back home, the report quoted Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) spokesperson Carl Niehaus as saying.
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Zuma’s elated family members were also awaiting his arrival.
Times Live quoted Zuma’s brother, Joseph as saying: “I feel like I am on top of the world. Ngiyagiya manje, kade ngigiya izolo abantwana bathi habe! (I was dancing yesterday and today). The kids said this elderly man is happy that his brother is coming back.
“When I heard the news I rushed to see his [senior] wife, [Sizakele] maKhumalo, and we spoke for a long time. She is so happy he is coming back. She told me she is thrilled. We are all happy.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
Additional reporting by AFP
