By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The main opposition party in South Africa, Democratic Alliance, has described the remission granted to former president Jacob Zuma as a disgrace to the country’s criminal justice system, saying it would be challenged in court.
Authorities cited over crowding of prisons as reason for the release of the former President.
Zuma returned to jail on Friday but was released two hours later, and reportedly will not be required to complete his prison sentence.
The Correctional Services national commissioner said efforts to decongest the prisons is partly responsible for Zuma’s release.
The former leader was in 2021 jailed for defying a court order to appear at a corruption investigation.
He was released under controversial circumstances two months into his 15-month sentence on health grounds.
A court last month declared his medical parole unlawful and unconstitutional and ordered the former president to present himself at the Estcourt Correctional Centre.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday announced he was granting a special remission of sentences to about 10,000 non-violent offenders, including Zuma.
The correctional services defended the decision as opposition mounted pressure.
“The law has taken its course with regards to the former president Zuma. The national commissioner has taken a decision and that decision was not interfered with, neither did we meddle with it,” the Justice and Correctional Services minister told journalists.
The ruling African National Congress has welcomed Zuma’s remission status.
Zuma’s imprisonment in 2021 led to violent protests in which over 300 people were killed, and there were fears that if he were sent back to jail there could be more rioting.
