Former president Jacob Zuma continues to be monitored by prison officials while on medical parole, a KwaZulu-Natal Department of Correctional Services (DCS) official said outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Tuesday.

"Mr Zuma was granted medical parole, but he remains in hospital as he requires in-hospital care until doctors discharge him. He has been enrolled in community corrections system meaning that as a parolee he will be monitored by our officials until such time that the sentence expires," DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said.

Nxumalo was speaking outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court where lawyers for the State and Zuma, as well as the national commissioner of correctional services Arthur Fraser, appeared before Judge Piet Koen.

Fraser previously took a decision to release Zuma, saying the former president had declared his comorbidities, and that he was frail and required specialised treatment.

Nxumalo said Fraser and other senior officials were summoned to court to speak on Zuma's medical parole issue.

"I can confirm that Mr Arthur Fraser, Kenneth Mthombeni (acting regional commissioner for KZN DCS) and Mpumi Hadebe, head of Estcourt facility were subpoenaed by the NPA. They were subpoenaed for many areas of interest."

"What I can disclose is that the matter surrounds access to medical records for the former president Mr Jacob Zuma."

Zuma failed in his bid to have his 15-month sentence for contempt overturned.

The Constitutional Court dismissed his application to rescind his contempt of court order, describing it as "litigious skulduggery".

No supporters outside court for Zuma

There were no supporters for Zuma outside court on Tuesday, with a large police and media presence the only sign of his proceedings continuing.

Zuma supporters often swarm the area outside the court house, but have often stayed away from proceedings when Zuma failed to attend.