Compassion stood at the forefront of the argument surrounding whether former president, Jacob Zuma will be allowed to attend his brother’s funeral.
Michael Zuma passed away on Sunday, July 11 after a long illness, which came less than a week after the former president started serving his prison sentence. His brother’s funeral will be held on Thursday, July 22 in KwaZulu-Natal.
According to IOL, the South African Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights (SAPOHR) said that Zuma had the right to attend his brother’s funeral while the president of the organisation, Golden Miles Bhudu stated that Zuma should be treated like any other South African by being granted the right to bury his loved ones.
“He is doing a lousy sentence. He must apply to go to the funeral; they should not deny him to go and bury his brother. I don’t think there will be a problem with him going there. If there are problems, he is the former president and he can call out those who want to make trouble.
“We as an organisation have an interest in his incarceration, the conditions, the medical treatment and study material. The former president is not an ordinary man,” Bhudu said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice and Correctional Services said like all other inmates, former President Jacob Zuma was entitled to compassionate leave to attend his brother’s funeral, EWN reports. However, as correctional services spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo said, he had to first apply for it which he reportedly had not done.
Picture: Supplied