Mabandla refuses to succumb to court pressure

Justice Minister, Mabundla needs more time to consider 384 amnesty applications

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Bridgette Mabandla, has appealed against the Pretoria High Court ruling that her department is left with only three days to consider 384 amnesty applications by Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) political prisoners. The court handed down judgment on February 11 against the Minister.

This is after the IFP accused her of ignoring the applications for more than four years. The Human Rights Commission has already found the Minister guilty of violating the human rights of the prisoners and ordered her to finalise the applications by March 31.

The request was ignored, and the prisoners then decided to seek intervention in the High Court.