Cape Town – South African Police Minister Bheki Cele has reportedly said that police and law enforcement agencies are ready to handle any unrest that could erupt after the Pretoria High Court ordered former president Jacob Zuma to return to jail.
Cele made these remarks during a media briefing held by the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS) on Thursday.
Cele said that his department had learnt from the July unrest.
“The experience gained from there will be utilised to ensure South Africa remains safe, stable and calm, and all people in South Africa are protected along with their property,” News24 quoted Cele as saying.
He added: “As a cluster, we wish to reiterate our confidence in our constitutional democracy that provides that all people are equal before the law. The separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary are the bedrock of the Constitution, and our courts function without fear or favour. Any form of recourse must follow appropriate channels within the confines of the law.
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“I met with the leadership of the police and the military to make sure the preparations for the response and reactions are much better this time,” according to Times Live.
The high court on Wednesday ordered Zuma to return to prison, invalidating the medical parole he was granted in September.
The decision to place Zuma on medical parole is “declared unlawful and set aside”, read the ruling by High Court Judge Elias Matojane.
Zuma, 79, was jailed in July for 15 months for contempt of court, after he refused to give testimony to corruption investigators.
His jailing sparked violent protests and looting in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal that spread to the financial hub Johannesburg in July, claiming over 350 lives.
The former president was granted parole by the department of correctional services in early September.
His parole was challenged by a number of parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA).
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They demanded an explanation from Fraser on the reasons behind his decision to place Zuma on medical parole.
Fraser admitted during an interview with SABC’s Vuyo Mvoko in September that he alone decided to grant medical parole to Zuma.
He said at the time that Zuma had declared his comorbidities.
Following the high court’s decision on Wednesday, Zuma’s lawyers filed a motion to appeal.
The move meant that Zuma will not return to prison until the appeal is heard.
The Department of Correctional Services also filed an appeal.
“The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) will be appealing the judgment handed down by the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Pretoria, on the medical parole placement of former president, Mr Jacob Zuma. Having carefully studied the judgment, DCS is convinced that another court may arrive at a different conclusion,” said the Correctional Service Department in a statement.
For Immediate Release
15 December 2021MEDIA ADVISORY: DCS TO APPEAL HIGH COURT JUDGEMENT ON MEDICAL PAROLE FOR MR ZUMA pic.twitter.com/UgkJPqcahX
— Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services ?? (@Min_JCS) December 15, 2021
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