OPINION: The main beneficiary from this release of former president Jacob Zuma will be the ANC. Had Zuma remained in jail as the elections continued, the ANC would have performed worse than in 2016 writes Professor Bheki Mngomezulu.
Secondly, it is not the first time that someone has been released from jail on medical parole. Not so long ago, Schabir Shaik was released through this method. Certainly, this is not the last time that something like this happens.Undoubtedly, the release of Zuma has come as blessing to the ANC in many ways. Firstly, the manner in which Zuma was treated by some of his comrades left a sour taste in his mouth.
Fourthly, to add salt to the already festering wound, the ANC was unable to register some of its candidates. In its own defence, it complained about technical glitches with the IEC’s system. However, this argument did not hold water since other political parties were able to meet the set deadline. In the end, this accusation proved to be baseless since the Constitutional Court ruled that the election should continue in 2021 and directed that a date should be set between October 27 and November 1 2021. Subsequently, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma set the date to November 1 2021.
The second reason is that the release of Zuma will avert voter apathy which would have been occasioned by his incarceration – which was perceived to be unfair by a large number of South Africans. The fact that Zuma was jailed without any formal trial reminded the nation of the ugly old days of apartheid.
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