Minister seeks legal advice over court ruling

Justice and Constitutional Minister, Brigette Mabandla, is seeking legal advice on whether to appeal against a decision by the Pretoria High Court. The court yesterday ruled that Mabandla had failed to exercise her constitutional duties diligently over the applications of 384 prisoners for presidential pardons.

The prisoners, who are assisted by the IFP, have waited four-and-a-half years after handing in their applications without a word from the minister on when their applications would be dealt with. Judge Willie Seriti gave the Minister three months to deal with the applications.