Former president Jacob Zuma has been given permission to leave prison to attend his brother’s funeral in Nkandla.
Correctional services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed the information to TimesLIVE via a one-word text message on Thursday shortly before 5.30am.
“Granted,” he said.
The department on Wednesday confirmed that Zuma had filed a compassionate leave application late on Tuesday.
In a statement on Thursday morning, Nxumalo said the permission was granted under section 44 (1)(a) of the Correctional Services Act.
“A sentenced offender who is granted permission to leave a correctional centre remains a sentenced offender even while temporarily outside. The permission granted to Mr Zuma is for July 22, 2021.
“When outside a correctional facility, inmates need not to wear offender uniform.
“As a short-term, low-risk classified inmate, Mr Zuma’s application for compassionate leave was processed and approved following the correctional services prescripts,” he said.
In granting him permission, the department had to consider various elements, including what activity Zuma wanted to attend, how long he would be temporarily released and the security risks involved as he still needed to be protected by the department.
Zuma’s younger brother Michael died after a long illness a few days after Zuma started his 15-month prison sentence at the Estcourt correctional services facility for contempt of court after failing to appear at the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture.