2023-08-11 14:35:24
The South African non-governmental civil rights organization AfriForum on Friday rejected a decision by the Department of Corrections to grant former President Jacob Zuma a reduced prison sentence.
Zuma reported to Estcour prison in KwaZulu-Natal province on Friday, where he received “a special release procedure”.
Shortly therefollowing, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola announced that the former President would not return to prison, arguing that Zuma was one of many inmates who had been granted such a reduced sentence to address overcrowding in prisons. correctional institutions.
Last July, the Constitutional Court upheld a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling that Zuma’s medical parole, just two months into his 15-month sentence for contempt of court, was illegal. .
Under the terms of this decision, the former president did not finish serving his sentence and had to return to the Estcourt Correctional Center.
In response, the pressure group AfriForum lambasted the Department, accusing it of helping Zuma escape justice. “There is no more privileged and protected position in South Africa than being an executive of the African National Congress (ruling ANC),” said Ernest van Zyl of AfriForum.
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For its part, the main opposition party in South Africa, the Democratic Alliance (DA) lambasted the decision of the Commissioner of Corrections, Makgothi Thobakgale, adding that “President Cyril Ramaphosa has undermined the rule of law by preventing Jacob Zuma from entering prison for political reasons”. “It is clear that if you are an ANC executive, you will never be held accountable under the Ramaphosa era,” the party said.
Speaking at a press conference, Commissioner Thobakgale, explained that Zuma reported to Estcourt Correctional Center on Friday at 6 a.m. for treatment and was released just following 7 a.m. under of a special discount system which started today.
This special discount scheme is apparently aimed at addressing overcrowding in prisons and has been in the works since last April.
Asked why this system is starting on Friday, the justice minister said the recent fire at the Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Center in Makhado, Limpopo province has exacerbated the already dire situation.
Some 9,000 detainees are expected to benefit from the special discount scheme.
In June 2021, the Constitutional Court sentenced Zuma to 15 months in prison for contempt of court following he defied a Constitutional Court order to appear before the State Capture Inquiry Commission.
However, just two months later, he was released on medical grounds. The High Court and then the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) later concluded that his release was unlawful.
But that decision left it up to the commissioner of corrections to decide whether the time Zuma spent on medical parole should still count as time served.
Jacob Zuma is being prosecuted on corruption charges related to an arms deal concluded in 1999 with the French arms company “Thales”.
He is currently facing 16 counts of fraud, corruption and racketeering in connection with a €4.2 billion contract to purchase fighter jets, patrol boats and military equipment. Arms maker Thales has also been charged following allegedly paying a 4 million Rand (regarding 235,000 euros) bribe to Zuma.
With MAP
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