{"id":52529,"date":"2023-08-12T09:03:56","date_gmt":"2023-08-12T09:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/south-africa\/all-news\/kzn-leaders-react-to-zuma-remission-some-people-are-more-important-than-others"},"modified":"2023-08-12T11:34:29","modified_gmt":"2023-08-12T11:34:29","slug":"kzn-leaders-react-to-zuma-remission-some-people-are-more-important-than-others","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/south-africa\/all-news\/kzn-leaders-react-to-zuma-remission-some-people-are-more-important-than-others","title":{"rendered":"KZN leaders react to Zuma remission: ‘Some people are more important than others’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – South-Africa. <\/strong><\/span>While most civic organisations and political leaders in KwaZulu-Natal have denounced former president Jacob Zuma dodging prison time, some say it is a welcomed relief for the ailing province.<\/p>\n

Department of Correctional Services acting national commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale announced that a decision was taken for Zuma to return to the Estcourt Correctional Centre.<\/p>\n

Zuma, however, benefited from a special remission of prison sentences.<\/p>\n

This applied to non-violent offenders and was approved by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Zuma was the first beneficiary of the remission.<\/p>\n

Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said the decision for a special remission was to address overcrowding in prison, not to let the former president off the hook.<\/p>\n

Zuma was in prison for less than two hours before his release.<\/p>\n

News24 canvassed civic leaders in Durban and provincial political heads on the decision.<\/p>\n

While political parties lambasted the release of Zuma, civic groups felt there was much to lose from chaos similar to the July unrest of 2021.<\/p>\n

Durban in particular suffered from a civil unrest after Zuma was sent to Estcourt Correctional Services after he defied an order of the Constitutional Court to appear at the Zondo Commission into State Capture.<\/p>\n

Billions of rand in the city and provincial economy were lost and over 300 people were killed in the unrest.<\/p>\n

Anger and relief<\/b><\/p>\n

DA leader in KwaZulu-Natal, Francois Rodgers, said his immediate reaction was that South Africa had become a banana republic.<\/p>\n

“For someone to spend two hours in a reception and then pardoning them, is just absurd. You wonder when we will get to a point of consequence for not complying with the law.”<\/p>\n

He said there were clear double standards for ANC leaders and Zuma.<\/p>\n

He added:<\/p>\n

ActionSA provincial leader Zwakele Mncwango said the rule of law didn’t apply to those in power.<\/p>\n

“This sets a dangerous precedent that erodes the broader principle of unlawful acts having consequences, evident to all those who face rampant criminality on a daily basis.”<\/p>\n

But Kody Chetty, a community leader in the Asherville community policing forum, said they were happy no violence would ensue, similar to what unfolded in 2021.<\/p>\n

“We are slightly relieved by this news because we were anticipating trouble like the last time.<\/p>\n

“We had put plans and structures in place should a similar situation arise, and while we are not completely going to relax, we at least can sigh a deep breath that this news sort of lessens the blow.”<\/p>\n

Farcical and diabolical <\/b><\/p>\n

Narendh Ganesh, the head of the Duff Road Civic Association, said the move by Ramaphosa to grant Zuma a remission set a negative precedent “to skirt around the law”.<\/p>\n

“This is farcical and diabolical in my opinion. It says that some people are more important than others.<\/p>\n

“His previous privilege as a former head of state does not confer rights that are any different from any other citizen. He is an<\/p>\n

Asad Gaffar, a community leader in Westville, said the July unrest in 2021 was taxing on Durban and its many communities.<\/p>\n

“The rule of law applies, and I believe the courts must decide a way forward. But the unrest was also a difficult time for us as community leaders. Some of us were standing [guard] for 20 hours at a time during that period.<\/p>\n

“During the unrest, there were threats of violence and a lot of looting that we are still trying to recover from. It was a stressful time for ordinary people.”<\/p>\n

He said SA should move forward from Zuma and focus on much needed governance.<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About South-Africa<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – South-Africa. While most civic organisations and political leaders in KwaZulu-Natal have denounced former president Jacob Zuma dodging prison time, some say it is a welcomed relief for the ailing province. Department of Correctional Services acting national commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale announced that a decision was taken for Zuma to return to the Estcourt Correctional […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":52528,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,12],"tags":[274,315,2913,2688,285,238,286,288,275],"class_list":["post-52529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-policy","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-south-africa","tag-crime-and-court","tag-department-of-correctional-services","tag-durban","tag-jacob-zuma","tag-kwazulu-natal","tag-politics","tag-south-africa-2"],"yoast_head":"\nKZN leaders react to Zuma remission: 'Some people are more important than others' - South Africa<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"While most civic organisations and political leaders in KwaZulu-Natal 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