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Media Statement on the Decision of the North Gauteng High Court Regarding the Medical Parole Granted to Former President Jacob Zuma by the Department of Correctional Services
15 December 2021
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights (the Commission) appeals to the people of South Africa for calm.
It has noted the decision of the North Gauteng High Court nullifying and setting aside the decision of the head of the Department of Correctional Services to grant medical parole to former President Jacob Zuma and ordering the latter to return to Correctional Services to serve the remainder of the sentence that had been imposed on him by the Constitutional Court. The Commission also notes that the social media is already abuzz with statements that have the potential to inflame the situation in the country. Some statements have been made on public news media which can have the same effect. The Commission recalls that such media statements did in fact inflame the situation in June / July 2021 and led to the July unrest that took many innocent lives and resulted in large scale destruction of property in addition to violations of other human rights of many people in the country. The Commission is in the process of investigating that July unrest.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights (the Commission) appeals to the people of South Africa for calm.
It has noted the decision of the North Gauteng High Court nullifying and setting aside the decision of the head of the Department of Correctional Services to grant medical parole to former President Jacob Zuma and ordering the latter to return to Correctional Services to serve the remainder of the sentence that had been imposed on him by the Constitutional Court. The Commission also notes that the social media is already abuzz with statements that have the potential to inflame the situation in the country. Some statements have been made on public news media which can have the same effect. The Commission recalls that such media statements did in fact inflame the situation in June / July 2021 and led to the July unrest that took many innocent lives and resulted in large scale destruction of property in addition to violations of other human rights of many people in the country. The Commission is in the process of investigating that July unrest.
In the meantime, the Commission calls for calm and appeals to all the people of South Africa to continue being law abiding members of society and ensure that their actions and statements contribute to nation building and social harmony do not heighten tensions and lead to further destruction and violation of people’s rights. The Commission also calls upon the Security Cluster to note the developments, including the evolving social media discourse about the recent High Court decision and to do their best to prevent the repeat of the July 2021 experiences.
The Commission would like to remind the South African public that the former President, like any other citizen, has the right to take the recent decision of the High Court on appeal or review for different sets of Judges to look at and pronounce on the soundness and validity thereof. Let us all be calm and exercise restraint and allow the judicial processes to unfold. The South African Human Rights Commission has full confidence in the Judiciary of this country and is confident that judicial decisions will always be corrected whenever they are found wanting. It, of course, may not, and makes no pronouncement on the current decision, especially as age old procedures already exist for testing the validity of judicial decisions.
– Ends –
Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission
Gushwell Brooks – Communications Co-ordinator Tel: 082 645 8573 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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The Human Rights Commission is the national institution established to support constitutional democracy. It is committed to promote respect for, observance of and protection of human rights for everyone without fear or favour.
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