The African National Congress (ANC) said on Sunday it considers as inappropriate and irregular public pronouncements of an official of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) regarding the minister of justice and constitutional development and applications for a presidential pardon by prisoners aligned to the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
The ANC said in a statement the public statements and reported correspondence with the Justice Ministry suggested a failure on the part of the SAHRC to adhere to its own procedures for dealing with such matters.
”Its failure to follow the correct protocol in its interaction with the ministry undermines its integrity as an institution and the integrity of its publicly stated positions.”
The ANC was disturbed that, far from executing its important responsibility to uphold and protect the rights of all South Africans, the SAHRC’s irregular approach to this matter created space for political parties like the IFP to use the institution’s pronouncements for its own ends.
”The ANC urges the SAHRC to engage with the minister of justice directly through the proper channels and according to proper procedures so that it may make an informed finding on this matter.”
Justice Ministry spokesperson Zolile Nqayi said on Friday that Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla had not received the report.
”The minister has not yet received any official report with regards to its deliberations and findings and basis of the findings from the SAHRC,” Nqayi said on Friday.
”What the minister has received is a letter from a legal practitioner at the SAHRC advising her of the findings. It is only after the receipt [of the report] that the minister will be in a position to respond fully.”
Nqayi was responding to a call by the SAHRC for Mabandla to speedily process the presidential pardon applications of 384 IFP associates in prison.
SAHRC chief executive Tseliso Thipanyane told the South African Press Association on Friday the commission had found the minister violated the applicants’ rights because they had not yet been processed.
The commission therefore recommended that Mabandla process the applications within three months and make a progress report to the SAHRC each month, with a full report after 90 days, he said. — Sapa