Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen said on Friday that the new policy by President Cyril Ramaphosa which has allowed Jacob Zuma to go free has shown that the African National Congress (ANC) membership card is “your best defence” against the rule of law and accountability in the country.

The DA leader was responding to the announcement by government that former President Zuma will not be wearing an orange jumpsuit, as he was released from jail on Friday morning, after spending less than two hours there. 

Ramaphosa approved a special remission for non-violent offenders, due to prison overcrowding. Zuma was released as part of the special remission, which will see 9 488 inmates being released, as well as a further 15 000 inmates who are currently under correctional supervision and parole.

Steenhuisen, who was in the Free State to select a DA Premier candidate for the upcoming 2024 elections, said the decision to set Zuma free was an insult to all South Africans who uphold the rule of law.

The DA leader said the remission policy was designed to ensure that Zuma once again escapes accountability for his acts of omission and commission in South Africa.

“Once again the president’s spineless nature to stand up for what is right, his inability to protect the people over party has been on full display. What has happened sets a fundamentally terrible precedent for South Africa and it means all card-carrying members of the ANC, including people like Ace Magashule, are no longer accountable in the South African system,” Steenhuisen said.

He accused Zuma of being released under the false pretense of special remissions to cover for the “cynical manipulation of justice”.

He said the confluence of coincidence was too strong to ignore and claimed that it was designed to ensure that Zuma did not spend any further time in jail.

Steenhuisen said the action was sly and devious behaviour that required a great deal of planning.

“The fact that this remission came into effect today, the very day that Zuma was to go back to jail and to be processed, is a clear indication of exactly what has occurred in South Africa. If it wasn’t a new fundamental low in South Africa it would almost be a comedy of epic proportions,” he added.

He said Ramaphosa disappointed every time he was required to stand up for the fundamental values of the rule of law, and came time to choose his responsibility and constitutional duty to the people of South Africa over the interests of the ANC.

Steenhuisen compared these actions, and inactions, to the work done by Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis who he said had worked hard to stand firm to the law and against thuggery during the violent taxi strike.

“You can burn tyres and wave as many placards in front of municipal offices, this government is beyond listening. The only language they will now understand, is the one that is translated to them through the ballot box and through the vote of every South African,” said the DA leader.

He pleaded for all those who were eligible to vote to register to do so.

“The power in the next 12 months only lies with those who are registered to vote,” he added.