"We accept the fact that measures should be found on reducing overcrowding in the country's prisons. However, we don't think blanket remission of sentence should be one of those measures," the organisation said.

Azapo has criticised Zuma for releasing criminals while the ANC has repeatedly refused to pardon political activists aligned to it, who were convicted during apartheid.

"Azapo and the PAC are still calling for the release of political prisoners. These are comrades who fought for freedom and were found guilty by the National Party. Yet the ANC has not seen a need for these freedom fighters to be released in order to enjoy this pseudo freedom that many of us enjoy," said spokesperson Funani ka Ntontela.

"More disturbing is the report that people like Schabir Shaik and Jackie Selebi will also benefit from the blanket remission."

To mark this year's Freedom Day celebration, Zuma has shown clemency to offenders nearing the end of their jail terms, those on probation as well parolees.The move is aimed at reducing overcrowding in prisons by 40%.

The beneficiaries will receive a six-month remission, while those on probation and parole, but who were not sentenced for sexual, firearm and drug-related offences, will get a 12-month special remission.

Zuma said all those who were declared dangerous criminals in terms of Section 286A of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1957 would not benefit.

But Ntontela argued: "If the president says those involved in drug-dealing would not get remission, how then is Selebi granted remission when he colluded with a drug trafficker in flooding drugs into our country?

Other remissions were granted on former president Nelson Mandela's inauguration on May 10 1994; on the first Freedom Day anniversary in 1995; on July 18 1998 to mark Mandela's 80th birthday and May 30 2005.

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Wed Jun 19 09:22:39 SAST 2013 ::

Apr 30, 2012

maneater

Give it up to Zuma!!! the smartest president in the word i tell you!!!!!!!
Report Abuse

Apr 30, 2012

Vhamsanda

But he can hardly forgive the person who made him president, Malema.
Report Abuse

Apr 30, 2012

leshwabane

zuma he just cant stop his stupidity!
Report Abuse

Apr 30, 2012

tops

Eish Zuma kodwa he started nicely now he just lost the plot..........
Report Abuse

Apr 30, 2012

SilentGUN

I find litlle difference between Zuma & Juju-----Ba ya fana,,,USELESS!!!!
Report Abuse

Apr 30, 2012

MommaC

Its sad that the political detainees of AZAPO still sit in prison 18 years later simply because they chose the wrong initials to support (even though they did the most amount of bleeding).

Our poor cops must sometimes wonder why they even bother. Most of their cases probably take longer to investigate than the criminals get in prison time
Report Abuse

Apr 30, 2012

Hoshpelepelewa26Zikuphi

Eish I just finished my jail term this morning 08 :00 I missed!
Report Abuse

Apr 30, 2012

Diva7

Will someone please tell me this man is not serious, Please!!!!!
Report Abuse

Apr 30, 2012

somaartakeit

zooma shld not be in the business of granting parole to anyone, he shld stand trial for is part on the armsdeal scandal to which his fmr accountant shabir was convicted of being corrupt, jeer man this guy

as for selepi how cld he be granted parole when he hasn't even served his time in a proper prison cell?
Report Abuse

Apr 30, 2012

oldlady2

Ah come on. This is a big hype about nothing. 6 Months off 15 years is 3 months off inside, and 3 months off parole. In other words, absolutely nothing. If you've completed 7.5 years of a 15 year sentence (non violent prisoners normally are released on parole halftime), what difference does 3 months make in your rehabillitation? And just remember, DCS won't release anyone who haven't completed the required rehabillitation courses, unless their time is up. And if you have only completed 1 year of a 15 year sentence, you still have a long way to go anyway, even with 6 months off. This will mainly benefit that poor mother who was caught shoplifting a loaf of bread for the 3rd time, and was given a three year sentence because she is regarded as a habitual. More than 80% of our jailbirds are the tame birds, who were easily caught. Th wild birds are anyway still out there doing their thing. You'd all be surprised to find out how very few serious offenders are actually ever caught and sentenced. And if there is a rapist or murderer who's going to be released 3 months earlier because of this, do any of you honestly think 3 months will make a difference between doing it again or not?
Report Abuse

Read all 21 comments