Former prisons boss, Arthur Fraser has finally let the cat out of the bag on why he had to release former president Jacob Zuma from prison after serving barely two months of his convicted 15 months term for contempt of court.
When Jacob Zuma was released on medical parole, some critics argued that he didn’t qualify for parole, but was released anyway a few days before Arthur Fraser’s term of office came to an end.
The former prisons boss Arthur Fraser says his decision to release Jacob Zuma on medical parole was driven by fears of unrest if the former president’s health was “recklessly” put at risk, and not by his “perceived relationship” to Zuma.
Fraser served under Jacob Zuma’s era and some argued that he was the former president’s sidekick something he however denies.
“Yes, I served under his presidency, but that is not a reason to not follow the law when dealing with the application of any other matter relating to his incarceration,”
Fraser controversially served as the director-general of the State Security Agency during Zuma’s presidency.
He however stated in an affidavit filed at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria challenging application made by those who believe the release of Zuma from prison was unlawful. He said the former president’s political standing was not a determining factor for his release, but he feared another social unrest had Zuma’s health deteriorated while he was in jail.
“I also submit that Zuma’s political standing had nothing to do with his placement on medical parole,” he said.
There were several theories used to describe the events that transpired after the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma. Some allege that the looting and burning of infrastructure by those purported to be Zuma’s supporters was an act of attempted coup to overthrow a democratically elected government.
But some dismissed the allegations and argued that it was just a mere show of anger in retaliation to Zuma’s arrest.