DA disappointed by decision to grant Zuma leave to appeal parole ruling

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has expressed its disappointment with the decision of the High Court in Pretoria, to grant former President Jacob Zuma leave to appeal its decision against his parole.

Zuma was serving a 15 month prison sentence for contempt of the Constitutional Court when medical parole was granted by the former head of Correctional Services Arthur Fraser in September. Judge Elias Mathojane said it is important that the Supreme Court of Appeal provide clarity on legal provisions about medical parole.

The DA says it believes Zuma’s chances of overturning the original decision are very slim.

The party’s spokesperson on Justice, Glynnis Breytenbach was reacting to Justice Elias Matojane’s ruling that another court could arrive at a different conclusion to his decision that Zuma’s release on parole was illegal.

Breytenbach says, “We hold a view that the prospects of success of such an appeal are small to almost nothing at all. The initial judgment was sound in law and sound on the facts. And sympathy has no space in a sentencing regime, the fact ex-president is elderly and unwell is not relevant to this particular set of facts.”

VIDEO: Zuma’s legal team appeals order sending him to jail:

Law Expert, Benedict Phiri says it was a confusing judgement.

He says, “If you look at the two areas that judge Matojane basically said creates the grounds for leave to appeal, the first is that there a need for a higher court to give greater certainty to the interpretation of Section 75 and Section 79 of the Correctional Services Act. I’m really confused of why a higher court needs to weigh in on that.”

Below is the full interview with Phiri:

Durban residents 

Many people in Durban have welcomed the latest decision of the High Court in Pretoria to grant Zuma and the Department of Correctional Services leave to appeal the judgment that set aside the decision to grant Zuma medical parole.

Durban residents say last week’s judgment was not fair.

One resident says, “I would like to welcome the decision by the court. We hope this decision will bring calm and peace in our nation because there has not been any justice done in this matter ever since it started.”

Another resident says, “I am very happy that with the latest judgment, it brings back confidence in our justice system – the fact that today’s (Tuesday) judge decided to give the former president a fair chance and they are now starting to follow the law, the law is no longer based on hatred.”