The African National Congress (ANC) has thrown its support behind the release of former President Jacob Zuma from prison, on remission. 

Zuma was meant to return to prison this morning to serve the remainder of his 15-month sentence for contempt of a Constitutional Court order.

Owing to a decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal confirming that Zuma’s parole in 2021 was unlawful, the former President appeared at the Estcourt Correctional Services facility on Friday morning only to be released just over an hour later.

“We note that in complying with the Supreme Court of Appeal judgement the department ensured that President Jacob Zuma returned to Estcourt Correctional Services”, said ANC Provincial Secretary Bheki Mtolo.

The release happened following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to remit sentences for non-violent offenders and low-risk offenders according to Section 84(2)(j) of the Constitution.

Justice Minister Ronald Lamola outlined the borders of remission and went on to assert that remission excludes those sentenced for violent, aggressive and sexual offences, as well as people declared dangerous criminals in terms of section 286A of the Criminal Procedure Act.

Overcrowding has also been flagged as a serious impediment to facilitating rehabilitation initiatives. 

“With an occupancy rate of 147% and 47% overcrowding, this is a rational way of managing overcrowding,” said ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri.

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal cited the Freedom Charter as the basis upon which the Department of Correctional Services administered its system of correctional services.

The party stressed the need to heed the prescripts of the charter, highlighting that “imprisonment shall only be for serious crimes against the people, and shall aim at re-education, not vengeance”.