ZUMA PAROLE SHAIKS OPPOSITION
JACOB ZUMA will complete the remainder of his 15-month sentence in the system of community corrections, complying with a specific set of conditions and be subjected to supervision until his sentence expires.
The Department of Correctional Services yesterday confirmed the former president was placed on medical parole following his incarceration in July for contempt of the Constitutional Court.
His release came just days after Zuma reportedly refused to be medically examined by National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) appointed doctors.
He follows on the path of convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik, his former financial adviser who only served two years and four months of his 15-year prison sentence before being released on medical parole.
Zuma is serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court and was hospitalised days after his arrest.
Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said Section 75(7) (a) of the Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998 affords the National Commissioner a responsibility to place under correctional supervision or day parole, or grant parole or medical parole, to a sentenced offender serving a sentence of incarceration for 24 months or less.
“The National Commissioner is also, in terms of Section 52, empowered to prescribe conditions of parole. Medical parole’s eligibility for Mr Zuma is impelled by a medical report received by the Department of Correctional Services.
“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 be low 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 to,” he said.
Nxumalo also said the medical parole placement for Zuma means that he would complete the remainder of the sentence in the system of community corrections, whereby he must comply with a specific set of conditions and would be subjected to supervision until his sentence expires.
“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. We appeal to all South Africans to afford Mr Zuma dignity as he continues to receive medical treatment,” Nxumalo said.
In welcoming the decision, Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said the decision to grant Zuma medical parole was an indication there was “humanness” in the system.
“It shows the precariousness of President Jacob Zuma’s health. The decision was a product of two medical reports – one compiled by the military health services and the other by Correctional Services’ own medical doctors.”
The decision, however, has outraged Cope’s Dennis Bloem, a former chairperson of the portfolio committee on correctional services while he was still an ANC member before defecting to Cope.
Bloem said Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola and the Department of Correctional Services must account to the nation for what informed the decision to release Zuma on medical parole.
“It is totally disgusting that the Correctional Services must make a mockery of our parole system. It is unacceptable and it is very clear that Zuma received preferential treatment ever since he was incarcerated in July.
“Zuma’s co accused Schabir Shaik was also released under questionable medical parole. The minister and the National Commissioner must account to the country which informed Zuma’s medical parole,” Bloem said.
He said Lamola had a day after Zuma’s imprisonment addressed the nation and said Zuma would not receive preferential treatment.