Press Release: Gauteng High Court Hands Down Judgment In Mr Zuma’s Medical Parole Case

Today the Gauteng High Court handed down judgement in the matter pertaining to the decision of the National Commissioner to release Mr Zuma on medical parole against the recommendation of the Medical Parole Advisory Board. The Helen Suzman Foundation participated in these proceedings as an applicant.

The High Court held that the decision of the National Commissioner to place Mr Zuma on medical parole was unlawful and should be set aside and substituted with a decision rejecting Mr Zuma’s application for medical parole.

The Court further directed that Mr Zuma be returned into custody in order to serve out the remainder of his sentence of imprisonment.

The Helen Suzman Foundation argued that the time that Mr Zuma spent on medical parole should not be counted towards the fulfilment of the Constitutional Court’s sentence as it would unduly benefit Mr Zuma. The High Court agreed with this submission and declared that the time that Mr Zuma spent out of jail on medical parole should not be counted towards the fulfillment of his 15 month sentence.

The High Court has made it clear that the rule of law applies to everyone and that all state officials must act in accordance with the law.

The judgment can be found here.

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