The Inkatha Freedom Party has remarked that while the decision to grant special remission to former President Jacob Zuma ‘tempers justice with mercy’, this should not become a precedent.
The IFP also said that it noted that the decision to release Zuma on medical parole was still subject to the judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal, which found that ‘the Commissioner’s decision (to grant medical parole) was unlawful and unconstitutional. The high court was correct to set it aside.’
Further investigation was needed into the decision by the former National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Arthur Fraser, on Zuma’s release.
‘While we welcome that the decision to release former President Zuma closes the door to more possible unrest, we wish to state clearly that it should not be considered a precedent. Lawlessness and violence – or the threat of violence – must never outweigh the need for justice, accountability, and consequences for one’s actions,’ the party said.
[Image: World Economic Forum www.weforum.org / Matthew Jordaan mattjordaanphoto@gmail.com – Opening Plenary – World Economic Forum on Africa 2009, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107129999]