The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says that former President Jacob Zuma’s returning to jail will serve no purpose.
Earlier the High Court in Pretoria ordered that Zuma go back to prison after setting aside his medical parole.
The party has labelled the judgment of the High Court in Pretoria as political revenge.
EFF spokesperson Vuyani Pambo says “Arresting Zuma is nothing but political revenge. If the law must serve the purpose of rehabilitation or bringing order to society, what is the purpose of arresting Zuma again? Why is Zuma a threat to society or what need is there to rehabilitate him? It’s the malicious use of the law. The point is that he must be corrected and in this case, it looks like there is a clear mandate to punish as opposed to correct.”
‘Medical parole unlawful’
The court has ordered Zuma to go back to prison after setting aside his medical parole. It has ruled on Wednesday that former National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Arthur Fraser’s decision to place Zuma on medical parole was unlawful.
Arthur Fraser’s decision to parole Zuma unlawful
This follows Zuma’s 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court after he refused to continue to appear before the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture.
Fraser’s decision was against the advice of the Medical Parole Board. The court declared that the time Zuma was out of jail on medical parole should not be included in his sentence.
Zuma was imprisoned at the Escourt Correctional Services Facility for fifteen months.
The court states that it is declared that the time Zuma was out of jail on medical parole should not be counted for the fulfillment of [Zuma’s] sentence of 15 months imposed by the Constitutional Court.
Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo says the department is still studying the judgment.
“We have noted the High Court judgment and we have stated that we are studying that particular judgment upon which thereafter we will make pronouncements in terms of the way forward so for now, that’s where we are. Allow us space to study it and in relation to Mr Fraser, he took that decision in his capacity as the National Commissioner so it is not about him as an individual but about the office of the National Commissioner.”
Application for leave
Meanwhile, the legal team of former President Zuma has filed its application for leave to appeal the judgment.
The court declared that the time Zuma was out of jail on medical parole should not be counted for the fulfilment of his sentence.
Foundation Spokesperson, Mzwanele Manyi says, “Indeed the legal team of his excellency, President Zuma has just delivered its application for leave to appeal in terms of Section 17 of the Superior Courts Act on the grounds that the judgment is clearly wrong and there are strong prospects that a higher court will come to a totally different conclusion.”
Carl Niehaus reacts to court’s ruling on Arthur Fraser’s decision to parole Zuma:
