The national commissioner of correctional services, Arthur Fraser, has revealed that he overruled the Medical Parole Advisory Board board to grant medical parole to former President Jacob Zuma.
In an interview on The Watchdog on Wednesday night, Fraser explained that “[Zuma] came to our facility, we have a responsibility to provide security and care. And as in all instances, when we admit a person into our facility, we make sure we do a full assessment, including a health assessment.”
He further mentioned that an application was made by the medical staff at the beginning of August, in which they requested medical parole.
“They allocated a doctor to go and do an observation as they do in all instances, they have done an observation and based on their engagement and assessment … on the patient, recommendations were made to the medical parole advisory board and those were made… the board did not approve for medical parole because they indicated that he was in a stable condition,” said Fraser.
“What I need to indicate is that when the advisory board provided those recommendations I had then, as the head of the centre, who has the authority to decide, then reviewed the information available and then indicated that the conditions, based on the reports that we have require us to release him (Zuma),” he added.
Fraser has also insisted that his decision, which is now being challenged by the DA, Helen Suzman Foundation and Afriforum, would withstand any legal scrutiny that may arise, IOL reports.
According to Fraser, the reasons were available in documents, adding that he was ready to present this to whoever needed to see it. He went on to say that the reasons were legal and procedural, as per News24.
Zuma, who was serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of the Constitutional Court at Estcourt prison, was transferred to an outside hospital soon after his prison term began. The exact nature of his medical condition remains unknown.
Picture: Twitter