South Africa’s former president, Jacob Zuma is being assessed by the Correctional Service in a bid to determine the facility suitable for him.

Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said as per regulations due to COVID-19, Zuma who handed himself to police on Wednesday night had to go to the isolation section all newly-admitted inmates are kept. Nxumalo said:

He will be there for about 14 days up until he is cleared. But that has also given us an opportunity for other processes to continue which involves the assessment for healthcare, mental state, vulnerability, suicide risks and that will take some days._

The outcomes of that assessment will then determine a suitable facility to house him because he has to be classified, is he medium-risk or low-risk, is he having vulnerabilities? Where can we best take care of those vulnerabilities? Is it healthcare or otherwise?

So you look at all of those and then decide to say this is the best suitable facility to keep this person._

The 79-years-old former president recently argued against imprisonment saying his right to life was at risk in jail since his health was unstable.

Zuma was sentenced to a 15-month jail term for contempt of court after refusing to appear before the Zondo Commission of Enquiry that is investigating him on corrupt activities he allegedly committed during his 9-year tenure as president.

Zuma argued that Zondo should step down as the chair of the commission saying he was biased against him.