National Land Committee (NLC) official Ann Eveleth was released on Thursday after a ruling by the Pretoria High Court.
”She has been released and is on her way home. She is fine and very happy to be out,” said NLC co-ordinator Samantha Hargreaves.
Eveleth planned to visit the Landless People’s Camp on the fringes of the World Summit in Johannesburg later on Thursday.
Earlier on Thursday, the Pretoria High Court ruled that Eveleth should be released from detention.
Judge Johan van der Westhuizen ordered the Department of Home Affairs to issue a temporary permit for Eveleth to reside in South Africa pending the outcome of her review application. She was arrested after visiting arrested fellow protesters, and detained after it was found that her temporary residence visa was outdated.
Mike Ramagoma, a representative for Deputy Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said the department had noted the court’s judgement and would issue Eveleth with a section 41 permit.
”It is a temporary permit. We will issue it once the conditions are finalised.”
The temporary permit was necessary as Eveleth was still a prohibited person, but was challenging her status in court and needed to be in South Africa for this purpose, Ramagoma said.
The department contends that Eveleth, a US citizen, has been in the country illegally since October last year.
She was arrested a week ago after visiting fellow land activists in jail. They were detained after marching on the Gauteng provincial government’s offices.
In court papers, Eveleth questioned the reason for her detention.
”My arrest and detention has more to do with stopping what is seen to be my critical reporting on the World Summit on Sustainable Development proceedings and/or providing media assistance to the landless communities who want to express their concerns at how they perceive land, poverty and development issues are being addressed by the South African government over the course of the 10-day summit, rather than seeking to enforce the department’s immigration policy.” – Sapa