Johannesburg – The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) on Wednesday announced it was appealing the Supreme Court of Appeal judgment that ruled former president Jacob Zuma’s release from prison on medical parole was unlawful.
Zuma had served just under two months of his 15-month sentence for contempt of court when he was released on medical parole.
However, on Monday the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein nullified the medical parole placement and placed the onus on the DCS to decide if Zuma should be sent back to prison.
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“Having carefully studied the judgment, Correctional Services is convinced that another court may arrive at a different conclusion,” said a terse communique from the department.
“DCS is considering this course on the basis of the interpretation and application of the Correctional Services Act and other relevant prescripts.”
The DCS and Zuma unsuccessfully appealed to the SCA an earlier ruling by the high court that found the former president’s medical parole was unlawful.
On Tuesday, The Jacob Zuma Foundation described the failed appeal as a “total injustice and outrage”.
The foundation said Zuma had instructed his legal team to “craft an opinion to advise him on his legal options within the next few weeks”.
“There is no new crisis, and we should all leave the matter in the hands of the law and our democratic institutions.”
