“Justice Delayed Again For Zuma”
Mzwanele Manyi, former president Jacob Zuma’s spokesperson, stated that a communications glitch at the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) that will delay the appeal hearing regarding Zuma’s medical parole is yet another example of justice being denied to the former statesman.
Due to an error by an SCA official, SCA President Judge Mandisa Maya was not notified of two requests for the matter to be treated as urgent.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Two More Arrests Made In The Murder Of Hillary Gardee
Zuma’s case could have been heard in February or May, but it is now likely to be heard in August, which could result in a courtroom clash because Zuma is facing charges in the Pietermaritzburg High Court related to the 1990s arms deal.
Manyi stated that they were on record as saying that the justice system was unjust to Zuma and that justice delayed was justice denied. “He has faced injustice even before his incarceration. It’s almost as if he is being put in a position where he must not win.”
Manyi stated that, regardless of the communication errors that caused the delay, Zuma was a disciplined member of society who would give the system the benefit of the doubt and patiently await his day in court.
“The issue we will take up when we get to the SCA is that the high court equated medical parole with freedom … he is still a prisoner and for a court to overlook that is absurd. That is a travesty of justice,” Manyi said.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Motsoaledi Branded Afrophobe After PhD Student Commits Suicide
Zuma turned himself in on July 7, last year, to begin serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court after refusing to cooperate with the state capture investigation.
Almost two months later, former corrections chief Arthur Fraser granted Zuma medical parole, but the DA, Helen Suzman Foundation, and AfriForum sought review and set aside the parole decision, as well as for Zuma’s time on medical parole not to be counted as time served.
Zuma and Fraser had both objected to the applications. In December, Judge Keoagile Matojane of the North Gauteng High Court ordered Zuma’s return to prison, citing Fraser’s grant of medical parole as an illegal intervention.
Judge Matojane granted Zuma leave to appeal. The judge stated that the case raised an important point of public law and deserved the SCA’s interpretation of the Correctional Services Act’s provisions.
