Neil McCartney The Citizen
Democratic Alliance leader, John Steenhuisen, says former President Jacob Zuma was the first beneficiary of a brand new policy that will see thousands of prisoners released because of so-called overcrowding.
He was commenting on Friday after President Cyril Ramaphosa's special remission of sentence that will see 9 488 inmates being released to ease overcrowding in correctional facilities, made worse by the recent fire in a Limpopo prison.
Steenhuisen said the President had "weaseled out of standing up for the rule of law and the Constitution", by choosing instead to use a "cynical and manipulative move" to free former President Zuma.
He said this was a cynical manipulation of the justice system as well as the powers of government.
DA MP, Glynnis Breytenbach, said they would be seeking legal opinion.
The Inkatha Freedom Party said the decision "tempers justice with mercy."
But, MP and national spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hhlengwa, said this does not take anything away from the Appeal's Court judgment which held that "the Commissioner's decision [to grant medical parole] was unlawful and unconstitutional. The high court was correct to set it aside."
"We, therefore, believe that further investigation of this irregular decision by the then-National Commissioner is needed," Hhlengwa said.
He said the decision also closes the door on "more possible unrest" which he added, "should not be considered a precedent."
In noting Friday's decision by the President and the Correctional Services Commissioner, the Good Party said while the timing would be questioned, they believed that former President Zuma fell into the category of "elderly and vulnerable" and was a "non-violent" offender.
Spokesperson, Brett Herron, said they have no doubt that some political parties would seek to drive outrage, and will exploit this decision, "we do not believe we should be a nation baying for blood."
"The imprisonment of a former president who swore to uphold the laws of this land, for contempt of court, is a betrayal of the people of South Africa and it demands a sober response. Zuma has served some time for this offence; our rule of law has been tested and remains resilient," he said.
