Former president Jacob Zuma. Picture: Masi Losi
THE POLICE said they were high alert for any potential threats of unrest following this week’s court rulings on Jacob Zuma and Chris Hani’s killer Janusz Walus.
On Monday, The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) unanimously confirmed that the medical parole granted to former president Jacob Zuma by then-prison boss Arthur Fraser was unlawful – and it ruled he should return to jail.
Zuma, who was jailed for 15 months after being found guilty of being in contempt of court, was released on medical parole in September last year.
He began serving his sentence in July 2021 at the Estcourt Correctional Services facility.
In another court ruling, Walus was released on parole.
Walus shot and killed Hani on the morning of April 10, 1993. He has served 29 years for the murder.
Among the reasons the Constitutional Court granted him parole were that he was a first-time offender and had a clean record in prison.
According to reports in News24, these rulings sparked concerns of possible civil unrest, like those in July last year. The unrest ran into billions of rand of damage.
National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure had taken note of both judgments and remains on high alert to respond to any eventuality.
“Members of the public are also reminded that it is a criminal offence to incite violence and damage to property ... Members of the public are, therefore, urged not to spread inflammatory messages on social media.”
She said the SAPS festive season operations are in full swing with more boots on the ground to ensure heightened police visibility.
“The safer festive plan will see heightened crime-combating operations and increased visibility to prevent, combat and investigate any criminal-related incidents.”