Overcrowded prisons reason to allow Zuma to walk free ‘does not fool anyone’, says DA

AfriForum, who along with the DA, had taken the Zuma medical parole matter to court, said they would be seeking legal advice on the matter, but said it showed that senior ANC leaders were above the law.

The Supreme Court of Appeal found that a decision to place Zuma on medical parole was unlawful and unconstitutional. It also ordered Zuma to return to the Estcourt Correctional Centre to finish serving his sentence.

Acting Correctional Services Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale announced on Friday that Zuma had checked into the Estcourt Correctional Centre at 6am before he was granted the special remission due to overcrowding at prison facilities.

Over 9,000 prisoners will be released in line with the special remission granted by Ramaphosa. Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said the process of the special remission for non-violent offenders began in April this year. Zuma was the first offender to benefit from the process.

DA member of Parliament (MP) and spokesperson on justice, Glynnis Breytenbach, said the decision was a “disgrace”.

“The minister suggesting that this process began in April is a joke, this has nothing to do with overcrowding in prisons. The timing of this does not fool anyone,” Breytenbach said in an interview with SABC News.

“Of course, Mr Ramaphosa will be shocked and say he is acting on the advice of his ministers,” she said.

She said the decision to release Zuma under the pretence of prison overcrowding was special treatment for an ANC leader, and she described the decision as “sly and devious manipulation of the justice system”.

She said the community corrections system which the 9,000 prisoners would be released under, was under resourced and was barely functional.