South Africa: Ramaphosa pardons Zuma

By Edwin -

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on August 11, 2023 that he had pardoned former President Jacob Zuma and other political offenders. Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court, but was released on medical parole in September 2021. The pardons have been met with widespread criticism, with many people accusing Ramaphosa of rewarding corruption and impunity.


Zuma was found guilty of contempt of court in July 2021 for refusing to testify before the Zondo Commission, which is investigating corruption allegations during his presidency. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, but was released on medical parole in September 2021 after serving just two months of his sentence.

The pardons announced by Ramaphosa on August 11 also include:

  • Schabir Shaik, a businessman who was convicted of corruption and fraud in relation to the arms deal scandal.
  • Mzi Khumalo, a former ANC MP who was convicted of fraud and corruption in relation to the security cluster tender scandal.
  • Billy Mathonsi, a former government official who was convicted of fraud and corruption in relation to the housing department tender scandal.

Ramaphosa said that the pardons were granted on compassionate grounds and in the interests of nation building. He said that the pardons would allow Zuma and the other offenders to "rebuild their lives and contribute to society."

However, the pardons have been met with widespread criticism. Many people have accused Ramaphosa of rewarding corruption and impunity. They have also argued that the pardons are unfair to the victims of corruption.

The African National Congress (ANC), the ruling party in South Africa, has defended the pardons. The ANC said that the pardons were a "necessary step" to heal the divisions in the country. The ANC also said that the pardons would allow Zuma and the other offenders to "contribute to the development of the country."

The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has condemned the pardons. The DA said that the pardons were "an insult to the rule of law" and "a betrayal of the people of South Africa." The DA also said that the pardons would "set a dangerous precedent" and make it more difficult to fight corruption in the future.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has also expressed concern about the pardons. The SAHRC said that the pardons were "unprecedented" and "set a dangerous precedent." The SAHRC also said that the pardons would "undermine the fight against corruption."

It remains to be seen how the pardons will impact South Africa. However, it is clear that the pardons have sparked a major debate about corruption, impunity, and the rule of law in the country.

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