By: Natasha Archary
Former President Jacob Zuma will be spending his 80th birthday in hospital after falling ill.
This after Zuma’s corruption trial was postponed on Monday, to 17 May for continuation.
According to the JG Zuma Foundation, the former president was admitted to hospital and is undergoing tests.
Spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said Zuma’s condition was not critical but his state of health at the moment requires hospitalisation.
The foundation hopes Zuma will be allowed to spend some time at home with his family on his birthday.
The corruption trial postponement comes on the back of Jacob Zuma’s application for leave to appeal the outcome of his special plea.
Zuma is awaiting an outcome of his application from the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) Judge President Mandisa Maya.
In March, Zuma’s bid for appeal against advocate Billy Downer dismissed and the trial was set to resume on 11 April.
Zuma’s bid for appeal was centered around removing Downer from his case. He cited that the advocate lacked the right to prosecute him because he had an undeniable bias against him.
This after the case was dragged out for two years, following many setbacks as well as Zuma’s ill health.
Zuma is implicated on charges of corruption, racketeering, and money laundering stemming from the 1999 Arms deal.
The French arms deal debacle came about when the former President was accused of receiving a bribe of R500K a year from French arms dealer Thales.
Now, as the former President celebrates his 80th birthday in hospital, birthday messages congratulating Zuma on his milestone 80th birthday is flooding the timelines on social media.
Happy 80th Birthday @PresJGZuma Msholozi, Nxamalala! Wishing you a speedy recovery and hope you enjoy you day, always know you are loved and appreciated by many. #HappybirthdaypresidentZuma #PresidentZumaDay #ZumaDay pic.twitter.com/d2EC89kI7F
— Thulani Zungu (@Som2one) April 12, 2022
Happy birthday President Jacob Zuma, Baba weSizwe. pic.twitter.com/cZzarPKZ4R
— Thabani Mdletshe (@Realthabanim) April 12, 2022
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