Jacob Zuma could be free in months after handing himself in

South Africa's justice minister says former president could be paroled after four months of 15-month sentence

South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma, whose decision to hand himself in to police to serve a 15-month jail term has been greeted as a victory for the troubled country's efforts to enforce the rule of law, could be free in four months, the justice minister has said.

The minister, Ronald Lamola, told journalists outside the prison where Zuma was being held on Thursday that the former leader would be eligible for parole either because his sentence was less than two years or for medical reasons.