Jacob Zuma medical parole arthur fraser

The Pretoria High Court ordered SARS to hand over Zuma’s taxes within 10 days. Photo: Gallo Images / Die Burger / Lulama Zenzile

ANC KZN: Zuma court ruling ‘riddled with lots of flaws’

The ANC in KZN says the court’s decision to reverse ex-president Jacob Zuma’s parole grant seems to be personal

Jacob Zuma medical parole arthur fraser

The Pretoria High Court ordered SARS to hand over Zuma’s taxes within 10 days. Photo: Gallo Images / Die Burger / Lulama Zenzile

The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal has entered the fray in former president Jacob Zuma’s latest legal battle to avoid going back to prison. The ANC in KZN takes issue with the North Gauteng High Court’s recent judgement nullifying the decision by former Correctional Services Commissioner Arthur Fraser to place Zuma on medical parole.

Judge Elias Matojane said Fraser had unlawfully mitigated the punishment imposed by the Constitutional Court and ordered Zuma return to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.

REMINDER: The highest court in the land sentenced Zuma to 15 months behind bars for contempt after he refused to oblige by a ruling by the same court, ordering him to appear before the State Capture Commission. Zuma started serving his time at the Estcourt Correctional Facility in July, but soon had to receive medical attention for an undisclosed ailment. It was then announced in September that Fraser had chosen to grant Zuma medical parole, despite a Medical Parole Advisory Board advising against that.

ZUMA APPEALING JUDGEMENT – ANC NEC URGED TO JOIN APPLICATION

Now the ANC in KZN has called on the National Executive Committee (NEC), the party’s highest decision-making body, to join in Jacob Zuma’s application to the Supreme Court of Appeal, to challenge the latest ruling. According to the ANC in KZN, the judgement against the medical parole grant does not advance justice and says its pleased with the Department of Correctional Services’ move to also challenge the decision.

ANC KZN Provincial spokesperson Mdumiseni Ntuli tells eNCA the ruling seems to be more personal than about the matter at hand, a sentiment echoed by many of Zuma’s supporters, including Mzwanele Manyi from his foundation.

“We are of the view that the judgement is riddled with a lot of flaws and injustice. Firstly, this judgement arises on the matter that was taken to court by the Democratic Alliance, which was challenging a decision by the National Commissioner of Correctional Services. Of course it has to do with President Zuma, but Zuma was not in court. If you look at the judgement now, it says those who are responsible to pay for the costs include President Zuma himself. Why is that done? We are not convinced that there is a justification for that”

ANC KZN Provincial spokesperson Mdumiseni Ntuli