Zondo questions Zuma's release from prison on medical parole
Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in July 2021 for defying a Constitutional Court order to appear at the Zondo Commission.
Former chief justice Raymond Zondo has questioned former president Jacob Zuma's release from prison on medical parole after defying a Constitutional Court order in 2021.
Zondo delivered the keynote address on Tuesday, the second day of the 15th Commonwealth Regional Conference for heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa.
The four-day event is taking place in Cape Town.
Zuma jailed
Zuma, who was sentenced to 15 months in July 2021 for defying a Constitutional Court order to appear at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into allegations of state capture, was released on medical parole in September 2021 by former correctional services commissioner Arthur Fraser.
The former president served just two months of the sentence.
Zondo chaired the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture from 2018 to 2022.
WATCH Raymond Zondo speaking about Jacob Zuma's jail term
Former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has questioned the release of former President Jacob Zuma, commending the judiciary for initially imprisoning him and handing down the Nkandla judgment
Zondo stated that the judiciary rightfully declared Zuma's release unlawful, following… pic.twitter.com/n6cRQ2vSIa — News Live SA (@newslivesa) May 6, 2025
ALSO READ: WATCH: Zondo question Zuma's release from prison on medical parole
Judiciary commended
During his address, Zondo commended the judiciary for initially imprisoning Zuma and handing down the Nkandla judgment.
'I've already mentioned the SIU (Special Investigating Unit), but I think I deserve to mention the Judiciary, because it is the Judiciary that issued the Nkandla judgment that, in the view of many, turned the tide,' Zondo said.
Nkandla
Zuma paid back R7.8 Million – a portion of the tax money spent on installing non-security features at his Nkandla homestead in rural KwaZulu-Natal – seven years after renovations first started.
The saga began with renovations estimated at R60 million at Nkandla. However, inflated pricing quickly ballooned this figure to R246 million, as later discovered by former public protector Thuli Madonsela.
ALSO READ: Court rules Zuma's medical parole was unlawful, orders his return to prison
By the time the Nkandla renovations were completed, project costs had skyrocketed, and close to R100 million was spent on a chicken run, cattle kraal, Calvert, visitors' centre, swimming pool and amphitheatre.
Presidents not spared
Zondo said even presidents are not spared from accountability.
'It is the judiciary that sent out a very good message that, whether you are president or a former president, if you have done wrong, we will send you to jail. It is the Judiciary that make sure that when some irregularities were done to release a former president from prison, which is the Judiciary which declared that that release was unlawful.
'But it was the executive which wanted us to believe that coincidentally, when he came back, there was this plan that certain prisoners should be released, and he just fitted into that plan. Some of us did not believe that,' Zondo said.
Zuma parole
The matter Zondo referred to relates to the case in which the Constitutional Court dismissed the Correctional Services Department's appeal against the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling that Zuma's medical parole was unlawful in July 2023.
In November 2022, the SCA dismissed with costs Zuma's appeal against the setting aside of his medical parole by the Pretoria High Court.
Zuma and the Department of Correctional Services had appealed the high court's ruling in December 2021, which set aside Fraser's decision to grant him medical parole.
Go back to jail
The SCA basically ordered Zuma to go back to prison. The former president reported to the Estcourt Correctional Services facility in August 2023 following a decision on his incarceration.
ALSO READ: 'Need for Zuma to make more submissions about prison sentence bizarre' – Manyi
National Commissioner of Correctional Services Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale said Zuma was admitted into the facility and underwent processing.
Zuma remission
However, Zuma was released two hours later after he became eligible for remission.
Thobakgale at the time said the process of remission was to avoid overcrowding of prisons and factored in the category of crimes committed and time already served in facilities.
The then Minister of Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, said President Cyril Ramaphosa had remitted prisoners across the country and had not given Zuma special treatment.
'It is not a specific decision about former president Jacob Zuma, it is about all the offenders across the country. 9,488 inmates will be released into correctional supervision. Zuma will benefit from this.
'This 'special remissions' process was started the same day as the announcement of Zuma benefiting from it. He would also fall under the first 'category' of those released.'
Ramaphosa satisfied
Lamola said Ramaphosa was satisfied with the decision.
'The first issue the president is concerned about is respect for the rule of law. The president believes the rule of law has been served in this matter,' Lamola said.
NOW READ: Zuma's lawyers argue for acquittal due to lengthy delays in the arms deal case [VIDEO]
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mail & Guardian
19 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
‘Msholozi finally heard us': MK leaders welcome Shivambu's axing as secretary general
Former MK party secretary general Floyd Shivambu. (File photo) Senior officials in Although they expressed 'relief' that the party's leader, Zuma axed Shivambu as secretary general after he had travelled without sanction to Malawi in April to attend a church service led by self-proclaimed prophet On Monday Zuma said Shivambu's visit was inconsistent with the MK party's constitution. The trip, and Shivambu's insistence on defending how he made it while wearing MK colours, led to what insiders described as the boiling over of long-standing grievances against him. MK deputy chairperson Nkosinathi Nhleko told Monday's media briefing that the party had been 'left with no other option' but to remove Shivambu from his post. The redeployment comes as the party prepares to reshuffle its list of parliamentary candidates. Shivambu was not included on the MK list during May 2024 general elections, because he had been on the Economic Freedom Fighters' (EFF) list before defecting to the former. His name is expected to be included when the Electoral Commission of South Africa opens the first window for candidate list amendments from 6 to 12 June. 'We are happy Msholozi finally heard us,' said a senior MK leader in KwaZulu-Natal, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'This man was causing serious discord in the ranks. He came in as if he was going to fix the movement, but he created more problems than solutions.' Shivambu has accepted the move and expressed gratitude to Zuma, calling his role in the party 'an invaluable and humbling experience'. But his remained unapologetic about his Malawi trip, saying on the Newzroom Afrika channel: 'One thing I will never apologise for is going to see Prophet Shepherd Bushiri. When he said, 'Let's go to church,' I said, 'I'll go to church.'' The MK party source said branches had long raised concerns about Shivambu's leadership style, accusing him of sidelining long-time organisers, tightening access to Zuma and attempting to centralise control of party finances. Other insiders said his tenure had been marked by delays in convening the national high command and alienation of grassroots organisers. 'There was a growing feeling that he didn't come to build but to hijack. So when the Bushiri trip came to light, it gave the president the space to act. We see the redeployment as a way to remove him from the engine room without losing the value he still has in parliament,' said one. Shivambu's experience, including a decade in the National Assembly as the EFF's deputy president, is seen as an asset for a party seeking to assert itself as a serious opposition force after its surprise performance in the May 2024 elections. The MK party secured 58 seats nationally, displacing the EFF as the third-largest party. MK party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlhela said on Monday that Shivambu's Malawi trip was inconsistent with the party's policies, and 'the appropriate action was taken'. 'However, the national officials have resolved that his skills are best placed in parliament where he can help sharpen the MK party's opposition role,' Ndlhela added. But not all in the party are convinced that the move will resolve the deeper tensions his presence has created. Two MK high command members said Shivambu's strained relationship with Zuma's daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, and MK deputy president John Hlophe could make his integration into the caucus difficult. Duduzile, who played a central role in the party's digital mobilisation, has clashed with Shivambu over media strategy and his growing influence in the party's core decision-making circles. 'Dudu never trusted him, and neither did Hlophe. They tolerated him when he was in a position to help us build the ground campaign. But when he started isolating people and dictating terms, the red flags went up,' said one of the high command sources. Additional concerns have surfaced over a broader rift between founding members of the MK party and those who defected from the EFF alongside Shivambu. The high command members said his role also placed those he defected with in danger because of their loyalty to him, 'now that means they will be scrutinised as well. He should've been fired.' But some officials argue that Shivambu's visibility in parliament could benefit the MK party's image as it gears up to play a vocal role against the government of national unity. 'Zuma understands Shivambu is a polarising figure, but also a political weapon. Putting him in parliament keeps him visible but contained. The real question is whether the internal divisions he leaves behind will fester or fade,' political analyst Bheki Mngomezulu said. Shivambu did not respond to the Mail & Guardian' s efforts to get his comment.
IOL News
19 hours ago
- IOL News
R100 000 reward for information on Mfuleni taxi rank shooting that left four dead and three injured
Police and crime scene investigators at the Mfuleni minibus taxi rank after a tragic shooting claimed four lives and injured three others this morning. Image: Henk Kruger / Independent Media Police have offered a R100 000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest of the gunmen behind a deadly shooting at the Mfuleni taxi rank on Friday morning that left four people dead and three others injured, including a commuter. Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa say the incident took place around 6am at the old taxi rank when two unknown gunmen opened fire, striking seven people before fleeing the scene. 'Of the seven victims, one injured is believed to be a commuter,' said Potelwa. The Western Cape Taxi Violence Unit has since launched a full investigation and is pursuing several leads. No arrests have yet been made, but detectives are pursuing several leads. A reward of R100 000 has been offered for any information that could assist in the investigation. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The shooting, believed to be linked to ongoing taxi-related tensions, has drawn widespread condemnation from both the taxi industry and the provincial government. Mandla Hermanus, chairperson of South African Taxi Council, SANTACO Western Cape, said the industry was 'deeply disturbed' by the violence and called on law enforcement to act swiftly. 'We condemn this brutal and criminal act in the strongest possible terms. There can be no tolerance for violence in our industry or communities,' said Hermanus. 'We urge all operators to remain calm and exercise maximum restraint. This incident must not be allowed to derail the efforts underway to build peace and unity within the taxi industry across the province.' Western Cape Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku expressed sorrow and outrage at the shooting, warning against complacency in the face of growing violence at public transport hubs. 'I am shocked and deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence. We cannot allow criminality to take hold of our public transport spaces and threaten the safety of innocent commuters and workers,' said Sileku. He also called on the public and taxi operators to support the police investigation, saying; 'Those responsible must face the full consequences of the law. We must never become numb to this kind of violence. Behind every life lost is a family, a story, and a future that has been cruelly cut short.' The Western Cape Government reiterated its commitment to commuter safety, stating that violence in and around transport hubs not only endangers lives but undermines efforts to ensure safe and reliable mobility for all residents. 'Disputes must never be resolved through violence. There is no justification for actions that place innocent lives at risk and disrupt critical transport services,' said the Western Cape mobility department spokesperson, Muneera Allie.
Eyewitness News
20 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Police offer R100k reward for info on deadly Mfuleni taxi rank shooting
CAPE TOWN - Cape Town police said they were hot on the heels of gunmen linked to a mass shooting at the Mfuleni taxi rank on Friday morning. Four taxi operators were shot and killed, while two others and a commuter were injured in the shooting. Police believe that two gunmen were involved in this shooting, and a reward of R100,000 is being offered for information about the shooting. Western Cape police said two of the taxi operators were shot and killed while sitting inside a private car at the taxi rank just after 6am. They then proceeded inside an office where two more taxi operators were shot dead, and two others injured. Deputy provincial police commissioner for crime detection, Bongani Maqhashalala, said the motive could be related to taxi routes. "Here, we've been monitoring the routes as well as Somerset. However, when the matter is planned and takes place as this one early in the morning, unfortunately, we managed to miss this one." Crime scene experts are still combing the area for more clues.
