Meeting with Minister of Correctional Services demanded - further protests planned
On Saturday 12 April 2014 a number of petitioners held a peaceful protest to petition the release of Mr Clive Derby-Lewis on medical parole. The petitioners marched on the offices of the Department of Correctional Services where the petition, with the request that Mr Derby-Lewis be released, was received by a delegated officer of the Department of Correctional Services.
The reasons stated for his release in the said petition was that:
He already served an effective 21 years in prison. In terms of South African law a sentence of 15 years is generally regarded as having served such a sentence
He has been receiving medical treatment for skin cancer, prostate cancer, hypertension and a gangrenous spot in his leg for almost 5 years now.
He indicated that he would want to meet with the widow of Mr. Hani to express his regret for his action on two occasions, thereby indicating that his rehabilitation is complete. This has been refused by Mrs. Hani.
He was attacked by fellow inmates with sharp weapons on Wednesday 25 February 2014 and stabbed in his back. A second attack followed days later. Such an attack could prove to be fatal for a frail, elderly and terminally ill man of 78 years of age.
Parole for him was already approved in 2008 but never effected
He is currently the oldest inmate in South Africa and possibly the oldest in the world.
The Government of South Africa made Human Rights part of the legacy of a Democratic State. We urge the Government to prove that they are serious about exercising the citizen's right to humane treatment as protected by the Human Rights Charter.
In the document presented the petitioners asked for a reply from the Department of Correctional Services before or on 2 May 2014.
No such reply was received and a further peaceful protest was held on 3 May at the offices of the Department of Correctional Services. During this action a Communist flag was set alight as a symbol of our protest against the non-co-operation of the Department of Correctional Services in this process. This is in spite of the verbal assurances given on April 12th that the matter will enjoy urgent attention.
Another three weeks have gone by and still no reply.
The original petitioners, along with mandated representatives of the 5645 members of Front National and the delegates of other organisations present will gather at the Department of Correctional Services on 30 May 2014 to demand the following:
3) That a date be set for an official meeting with the Minister of Correctional Services to discuss the way forward.
4) Alternatively, that a date for the release of Mr Derby-Lewis be announced by the Minister before or on 23 June 2014.
As a part of this protest action, a moment of recognition and the laying of a wreath in Church Street, Pretoria, will take place, in remembrance of the 19 victims of a powerful motor bomb which exploded on 20 may 1983.
Should the Department of Correctional Services still refuse to communicate with the petitioners or urgently address the matter of the release of Mr. Derby-Lewis, International Human Rights Organisations, Foreign media and governments will be involved and the petitioners will conduct further protest meetings countrywide.
The protest on 30 May 2014 will start at 9:00 at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre and will then move per convoy to the Department of Correctional Services at the Poyntons Building ( West Block) , 124 WF Nkomo Street ( Corner WF Nkomo & Sophie De Bruin Streets) to hand over the petition.
Statement issued by Wessel Basson, Front Nasionaal Gauteng Vice Chairperson, May 21 2014
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