Cape Town – Former public protector, advocate Thuli Madonsela, has expressed her support for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to grant special prisoner remission, leading to the release of over 9 000 offenders, including former president Jacob Zuma.
Zuma was the first beneficiary of this decision, which has drawn criticism from opposition parties who believe it’s a way to shield him due to his status in the ANC.
The Supreme Court of Appeal previously ruled that placing Zuma on medical parole was unlawful and unconstitutional, ordering him to return to complete his sentence.
Madonsela said that she supports Zuma’s release based on the concept of Ubuntu and the teaching power of the law, suggesting that nothing more could be gained from further incarceration and that Zuma’s release was due to a mistake on the part of the state.
“I support the remission of former president Zuma’s sentence as Ubuntu anchored.
“The point regarding no one being above the law has been made, and the teaching power of the law leveraged.
“Nothing more could be gained through further incarceration. There’s also the fact his release was the state’s mistake,” said Madonsela on Twitter.
I support the remission of former President Zuma’s sentence as Ubuntu anchored.The point regarding no one being above the law has been made and the teaching power of the law leveraged. Nothing more could be gained through further incarceration. There’s also the fact his release… https://t.co/ibazxsF2MH
— Prof Thuli Madonsela #KindnessBuilds (@ThuliMadonsela3) August 11, 2023
The decision to release Zuma has also been linked to concerns about potential unrest, following the widespread looting and destruction that occurred during the July 2021 riots in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) after Zuma was initially imprisoned for contempt of court.
However, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola denied that the decision was influenced by these concerns.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) criticised the decision and indicated that they would explore legal options.
“This is yet another example of how this government, and particularly our president, who has again shown his spinelessness, is walking out on the principles we should be holding dear in any democracy: rule of law and equality before the law,” said DA leader John Steeinhuisen.
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Picture: Twitter/@GovernmentZA
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
