Former President Jacob Zuma granted medical parole
Former President Jacob Zuma has been placed on medical parole.
This was confirmed by the Department of Correctional
Services on Sunday.
Zuma is serving a 15-month jail term in KwaZulu-Natal
for contempt of court, after failing to appear before the State Capture
inquiry.
In a statement, the Correctional Services
Department said Zuma’s medical parole’s eligibility is impelled by a medical
report received by the department.
“Apart from being terminally ill and physically
incapacitated, inmates suffering from an illness that severely limits their
daily activity or self-care can also be considered for medical parole.
“The risk of re-offending of released inmates
must also below and there must be appropriate arrangements for the inmate’s
supervision, care and treatment within the community to which the inmate is to
be released.”
Nxumalo says the medical parole placement for
Zuma means that he will complete the remainder of his sentence in the system of
community corrections.
“Medical Parole can only be revoked if an
offender does not comply with the placement conditions. We want to reiterate
that placement on medical parole is an option available to all sentenced
offenders provided they meet all the requirements.’’
Freedom Plus leader, Pieter Groenewald says
he’s not surprised by this announcement
‘’The fact that former President Jacob Zuma
served most of his prison sentence in the hospital wing of the Estcourt
Correctional Services Centre proves that he was receiving preferential
treatment and it, therefore, comes as no surprise that he has now been granted
medical parole. The FF Plus warned against a rehash of the Schabir Shaik case,
where hospitalisation and an alleged serious disease served as an easy way to
avoid serving his prison sentence.’’
‘’It is abundantly clear that what transpired
with Zuma is indeed a rehash of the Shaik-method to avoid punishment. This
apparent custom of special treatment for some is undermining the country's
criminal justice system,’’ added Groenewald.
‘’The granting of medical parole to former
president Jacob Zuma by the Department of Correctional Services is entirely
unlawful and makes a mockery of the Correctional Matters Amendment Act of 2011.’’
‘’A report on the health status of any prisoner
must be subject to recommendation by an
independent board to confirm, in truth, that a prisoner is indeed
deserving of medical parole. Given that Jacob Zuma publicly refused to be
examined by an independent medical professional, let alone a medical advisory
board, this decision is a violation of the Act and therefore unlawful,’’ added
Steenhuisen.
Done By: Mitchum George
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