Thuli Madonsela supports Zuma remission deal, says nothing more could be gained by sending him to jail

Former public protector advocate Thuli Madonsela has come out in support of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s special prisoner remission of sentence, which will see over 9,000 offenders released, with former president Jacob Zuma the first to benefit On Friday morning.

Opposition parties have criticised the decision, saying it was an effective get-out-of jail-free card for Zuma, who was being shielded due to his status in the ANC.

The Supreme Court of Appeal had found that a decision to place Zuma on medical parole was unlawful and unconstitutional. It also ordered Zuma to return to the Estcourt Correctional Centre to finish serving his sentence.

"I support the remission of former president Zuma’s sentence as Ubuntu anchored.

"The point regarding no one being above the law has been made, and the teaching power of the law leveraged.

“Nothing more could be gained through further incarceration. There’s also the fact his release was the state’s mistake,” said Madonsela on Twitter.

I support the remission of former President Zuma’s sentence as Ubuntu anchored.The point regarding no one being above the law has been made and the teaching power of the law leveraged. Nothing more could be gained through further incarceration. There’s also the fact his release… https://t.co/ibazxsF2MH

— Prof Thuli Madonsela #KindnessBuilds (@ThuliMadonsela3) August 11, 2023

The July 2021 riots erupted in KZN, leading to wide-scale looting and destruction of property the last time Zuma was sent to jail for being in contempt of court. The Constitutional Court had sentenced him to 10 months direct imprisonment.

KZN suffered damage worth billions of rands, and more than 300 people lost their lives.

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola said over 9,000 non-violent prisoners will be released as part of the special remission process, which he said started at the beginning of April this year.

Lamola denied that the decision to release Zuma under the remission process was made with the July 2021 riots in mind.

The DA said nobody was fooled by the decision and have indicated they would be exploring legal options, saying the decision showed that senior ANC leaders were above the law.

Here's what Capetonians had to say about Jacob Zuma's release on remission of sentence

IOL

• IFP says while Jacob Zuma’s remission thwarted fears of another unrest, it should not be a precedent

• Overcrowded prisons reason to free Zuma ‘does not fool anyone’, says DA

• President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to release Jacob Zuma was in the best interest of the country, says ANC KZN

• Jacob Zuma’s release from prison not informed by fears of unrest, insists Justice Minister Ronald Lamola