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Ruling over delay in IFPpardons

Kingdom Mabuza and Sapa

Kingdom Mabuza and Sapa

Inkatha Freedom Party members' applications for presidential pardons have already been processed, Justice Department spokesperson Zolile Nqayi said.

Nqayi said the 380 applications had already been submitted to the presidency.

His comment comes in the wake of yesterday's Supreme Court of Appeal ruling that former Minister of Justice Brigitte Mabandla failed to process 380 applications for presidential pardons by jailed IFP members.

The SCA ruled that Mabandla had a constitutional obligation to process the applications before the country's president considered them.

IFP spokesperson on justice, Koos van der Merwe, said the ruling was proof that the criminal justice system is falling and that the ruling party does not care about the plight of ordinary people.

The Pretoria High Court previously ordered that all must be done within three months from the date of the order - to enable the president to consider them.

The matter relates to Mqabukeni Chonco, who on his own behalf and that of 383 others, approached the high court for relief after their applications for pardons were not considered.

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