Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been granted permission to leave jail to attend court next week.

Mr Zuma is expected to attend the hearing for his long-running corruption case in Pietermaritzburg on August 10.

Last month, the 79-year-old began a 15-month prison sentence for refusing to testify at a commission investigating corruption under his leadership from 2009 to 2019.

His arrest sparked widespread unrest across South Africa.

Mr Zuma’s lawyers have argued appearing via video link breached his right to face-to-face interaction with his lawyers and was unconstitutional.

On Wednesday, Judge Piet Koen, said the case “shall proceed in an open court”.

Mr Zuma is facing 16 charges of fraud, racketeering and graft relating to a purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and equipment from European arms companies in 1999, when he was deputy president.

Proceedings have been postponed for more than a decade because Mr Zuma has attempted to have the charges dropped.

The case will last approximately four days.

Mr Zuma’s supporters and family are expected to gather outside the court.