Former South African President Jacob Zuma will be permitted to appeal a court decision ordering him to return to prison to spend the balance of his term, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Zuma, 80, was released early this year on medical parole, but the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled that his release was unconstitutional this week. Judge Elias Matojane stated on Tuesday that the ex-president might now challenge that finding.

"Given his illness and advanced age, he requires compassion, empathy, and humanity "Matojane stated while delivering the decision about Zuma.

Zuma was convicted and punished for failing to appear before a government-backed panel investigating corruption charges during his presidency from 2009 to 2018.

Zuma was granted medical parole against the parole board's recommendation by former corrections commissioner Arthur Fraser.

He served roughly two months of his 15-month term, most of which was spent in the hospital wing of the Estcourt Correctional Center and a hospital in Pretoria, where he underwent surgery in August.

Zuma's counsel, Dali Mpofu, has argued that his release would be "equivalent to the death penalty."

"You are saying he must return to the location where medical professionals and prison officials have stated that they are unable to care for him," Mpofu stated. "Then what else will happen except that he will have to die there?"

Zuma's arrest in July provoked protests by supporters demanding his quick release and pardon.

The protests swiftly devolved into uncontrolled violence, with trucks being set on fire and businesses and warehouses plundered and set on fire. Over 300 individuals were killed in the country's worst violence since apartheid ended in 1994.