DA wants answers on Zuma medical parole
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called the decision by the Department of Correctional Services to grant former president Jacob Zuma medical parole unlawful.
The party's leader John Steenhuisen says they will be challenging the move, which the department said was motivated by a medical report it received on Zuma's health.
"I will be submitting an application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) for the records of the Parole Board to establish what criteria the Department of Correctional Services used to determine Jacob Zuma’s eligibility for medical parole.
"I will also be requesting DA members on the Justice and Correctional Services Committee summon Arthur Fraser to explain to Parliament his decision to grant this medical parole in direct contravention of the Correctional Matters Amendment Act."
READ: Former president Zuma placed on medical parole
Zuma will serve the remainder of his 15-month sentence for contempt of court, outside prison.
Correctional Services announced on Sunday that the former president was placed on medical parole - two months into his term.
Steenhuisen says they're not happy with Correctional Services Commissioner, Arthur Fraser's handling of Zuma's request for parole.
"A report on the health status of any prisoner must be subject to recommendation by an independent board to confirm, in truth, that a prisoner is indeed deserving of medical parole. Given that Jacob Zuma publicly refused to be examined by an independent medical professional, let alone a medical advisory board, this decision is a violation of the Act and therefore unlawful.
"Furthermore, any prisoner considered for medical parole must meet all three criteria stipulated in the Act: He or she must suffer from a terminal illness or be rendered physically incapacitated due to injury, disease or illness; the risk of re-offending must be low; and there must be appropriate arrangements for care in the community to which he or she is to be released. Simply being of an advanced age does not qualify."
READ: Foundation ‘elated’ as Zuma granted medical parole
Zuma, 79, has been hospitalised for a month at a health facility outside Escourt prison.
Meanwhile, the Jacob Zuma Foundation has welcomed the former president's release from jail. Prisoners' rights group, Sapohr is equally pleased, saying that it hopes other inmates - in a similar situation - are given the same treatment.
