DA demands confirmation of Zuma re-arrest

22 November 2022

The DA yesterday sent a lawyer’s letter to acting national Commissioner of Correctional Services Mr MS Thobakgale demanding that he confirms within 48 hours that he will ensure that Mr Jacob Zuma is returned by 17h00 on Friday 25 November 2022 to the Estcourt Correctional Centre to serve out the remainder of his sentence.

This follows yesterday’s ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal that Zuma’s medical parole was indeed illegal, and that Zuma must therefore return to the Estcourt Correctional Centre to finish serving his 15-month prison sentence for failing to appear before the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture when called to do so.

The DA’s legal letter points out that Mr Zuma is obliged by order to immediately return to the Estcourt Correctional Centre and if he fails to do so within reasonable time, the Commissioner of Correctional Services is obliged to ensure that he is returned – by arrest if necessary.

This case, National Commissioner of Correctional Services v Democratic Alliance, was brought by the DA because we are determined to ensure that the democratic principles of equality before the law and accountability are upheld.

Issued by John Steenhuisen, Leader of the Democratic Alliance, 22 November 2022