MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Statement by Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola Outlining Correctional Services Processes
As you are well aware, we can confirm that Former President Jacob Zuma was admitted into this facility [Estcourt Correctional Centre] in the early hours of this morning in compliance with the constitutional court order.
This is not a moment of celebration or triumphalism, it is a moment of restraint and to be human.
In line with our mandate as correctional services to treat all inmates in terms of the Nelson Mandela rules which are universal rules for the treatment of inmates.
Rule 1 is emphatic, all inmates shall be treated with the respect due to their inherent dignity and value as human beings.
This is a Medium B Facility which houses both youth and adult inmates, it was opened by Former Minister Masutha recently in 2019. He said the following on the occasion of its opening;
“Correctional Services has a mandate to create a humane system, where the weakest inmates feel safe where all are treated with respect”
It is a new generational correctional centre with an approved bed capacity of 512 inmates. It also has a hospital section.
As a precaution and in line with our COVID-19 measures, the Former President will be placed in isolation for a period of 14 days.
Furthermore, he will be assessed by our Medical Team in conjunction with the South African health military service and this will determine the conditions of his incarceration.
This assessment is done to determine the major risks and needs of the offender.
A complete profile report will then be submitted with recommendations to the Case Management Committee.
This process will assist to determine the appropriate classification of the former president.
All of these systems are in place to ensure that incarceration is done in a manner which is not retributive, but humane.
It should be noted that in terms of Section 73 (6 A) of the Correctional Services Act, an offender serving a determinate or cumulative sentences of not more than 24 months, may not be placed on parole or day parole until such offender has served either the stipulated non- parole period, or if no non-parole period was stipulated, a quarter of the sentence.
In this case, there is no stipulation for the non-parole period, this effectively means that the former president will be eligible for parole once a quarter of his sentence has been served.
We want to assure all South Africans that Former President Zuma will be afforded dignity throughout his term of incarceration.
I thank you!
Issued by the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services, 8 July 2021
