Zuma eligible for parole after serving quarter of sentence: Lamola

He spent his first night at the Estcourt Correctional Centre after handing himself over on Wednesday night.

The Constitutional Court sent him to jail for defying its order that he testify at the commission of inquiry into state capture.

Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola told reporters at the Estcourt prison that an assessment will be done to determine the appropriate classification for Zuma at the facility, which has a bed capacity for 512 inmates.

"He will be assessed by our medical team in conjunction with the South African health military services and this will determine the conditions of his incarceration. 

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"This assessment is done to determine the major risks and needs of the offender. A complete profile report will then be submitted with recommendation to the case management committee and this assessment is done to all inmates upon this admission is any correctional facility."

Lamola says Zuma will be eligible for parole after serving a quarter of his 15-month sentence.

The former president filed an application asking the Constitutional Court to rescind its decision. The court will hear arguments on Monday.

The Pietermaritzburg High Court is also due to deliver its judgement tomorrow on his 11th-hour bid to have his arrest order stayed.

Lamola says these applications will be dealt with as and when they happen. 

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"We all don't know that the judgement is doing to be. Upon release of the judgment, we will study the judgment and then it will direct us on what to do. 

"So that is what we are going to do with regards to today Pietermaritzburg High Court ruling, including the ruling that may come out in the ConCourt in the hearing that is going to happen on Monday. We also don't know when the ConCourt will make its ruling."