First Deputy Secretary General of the African National Congress Nomvula Mokonian.
- The ANC’s deputy general secretary, Nomvula Mokonian, said the party should not be seen as interfering with Jacob Zuma’s case.
- It was recently ruled that Zuma’s medical parole was unlawful.
- Mokonian added that the ANC National Executive Committee is ready to work with all parties after the general elections next year.
The ANC’s Deputy General Secretary, Nomvula Mokonian, said the party would not pressure the government to pardon former President Jacob Zuma.
This came on the heels of a recent Constitutional Court decision that could see the former president sent back to prison.
The Supreme Court rejected an appeal of the Supreme Court of Appeal’s ruling that Zuma’s parole was unlawful.
It is now up to Correctional Services Commissioner McGothy Topacgal to decide whether Zuma should return to prison.
The former president is currently in Russia for medical treatment.
Asked if the ANC would demand a pardon for the former president, Mokonian said, “This would be called interference.
“The most important thing is that we believe there has to be an objectivity in dealing with this and the relevant authorities have this job to reflect on and make sure it is dealt with in a way that doesn’t create unnecessary perceptions going forward.”
Read | Zuma may return to prison after ConCourt refused to hear correctional services resume
Zuma was jailed in 2021 and was expected to serve a 15-month prison sentence for defying a subpoena to testify at the Zondu Commission.
Former Correctional Services Commissioner Arthur Fraser released the former president on medical terms in a decision deemed illegal.
While the ANC will not press for a pardon for Zuma, the EFF has indicated that it will ask President Cyril Ramaphosa to pardon him should he be returned to prison.
“If they say he should go to [jail]I will go to him and argue my case that the man is ill.
“The man is so old; his credentials in the struggle, his service to public office and the fact that he has served time in prison and the fact that your parole alone does not mean that you are free; you continue to serve even on the outside.”
watch | ‘that’s enough! Jacob Zuma must be pardoned – Julius Malema
“It is enough to give him a presidential pardon to avoid the possibility of instability that has occurred in KZN,” UEFA leader Julius Malema said on Friday.
With regard to coalition governments after next year’s general elections, Mokonian has rejected neither the DA nor the EFF as potential partners in the event that no party obtains an outright majority in the provincial legislatures or the National Assembly.
She said the ANC National Executive Committee had decided to put in place regulations governing how to work in coalitions in the future and these regulations should clearly state the minimum programmes.
Mokonyane added:
We will work with everyone and anyone who agrees with us on the minimum program. So, the NEC [has] Yet to deliberate and make an assessment of current alliances. Gauteng [has] Yet to report back to us as well.
Meanwhile, former Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils warned Ramaphosa that South Africa should not be allowed to be a “pawn” of imperialist nations.
Western countries are warmongers, Kasrils said, referring to Russia’s war with Ukraine, calling Ukraine a NATO “proxy”.
“If we don’t stand square together, these imperialists—comrade president [Ramaphosa]You will know it better than us – you will want to make us their pawns.”