Freeing Zuma nothing to do with me
The Minister of Justice & Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, has distanced himself from the recently granted medical parole of former President Jacob Zuma, saying he was not involved, notes a Cape Times report.
Responding to questions yesterday on whether Correctional Services Commissioner Arthur Fraser was correct in overriding the decision of the internal parole board to free Zuma on medical grounds, and if he was legally wrong according to the department's rule book, were they going to take action against him, Lamola's spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, said the Minister's hands were tied.
Phiri said according to the law, Lamola only got to have a say in parole in matters when the offender was serving a life sentence.
‘In terms of section 79, Minister Lamola only engages with the medical parole advisory board in relation to inmates serving life sentences. In any other instance decisions about the granting of medical parole are the responsibility of the National Commissioner, or a head of centre,’ Phiri said.
The DA, the Helen Suzman Foundation and AfriForum have challenged the decision to grant parole to Zuma as irrational, and they demanded answers.
DA spokesperson James Selfe yesterday said they had written to the chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee, Bulelani Magwanishe, to request the committee meet during the upcoming recess to deal with the matter.
‘Fraser has indicated that he has a whole list of reasons for this travesty, and the DA urges him to share this list to be scrutinised by Parliament,’ Selfe said.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
