Pretoria - Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha met #FeesMustFall activists, mapping a way forward for students currently behind bars or facing charges in connection with the protests for free higher education.
"On the instruction of President Cyril Ramaphosa I, in my capacity as Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, met with higher education student activists on Friday August the 24th at the Union Buildings who were demanding a general amnesty for their fellow comrades who came into conflict with the law as a result of incidents that occurred during the #FeesMustFall campaign protests," Masutha said in a statement on Monday.
The Pretoria meeting followed another meeting which the Minister had held with another group of students in Cape Town on Wednesday.
"On both occasions, I pointed out that in line with its respect for the principles of separation of powers and the rule of law, the executive branch of government had neither the mandate nor the inclination to favour any person or group of people with a specific or general reprieve outside the existing constitutional and legal framework," said Masutha.
"The criminal justice system provides avenues for various alternatives to outright criminal prosecution which include diversion, mediation and various forms of restorative justice mechanisms. Section 84 (2) J of the Constitution of the Republic confers on the President, among others, the power to grant “pardon[…] or reprieve[s to] offenders and remitting any fines, penalties or forfeitures.”
With respect to pardons, Masutha said his department of justice and constitutional development supports that process by way of facilitating applications and draft memoranda on the basis of which the minister makes a recommendation to the president for decision.
"In this particular instance, I proposed the following to the students: The students will constitute a delegation which will provide a list of all affected students, i.e. those who are arrested and still in custody or detention, charged or awaiting prosecutorial decision, on trial and sentenced – including those serving custodial sentences in a correctional facility," said Masutha.
"The Minister has undertaken to assist the students in approaching the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to consider evaluating each case, specifically in order to determine the seriousness or otherwise of the charges, the weight or otherwise of the available evidence and, where appropriate, possibilities of the option for diversion, mediation or other forms of restorative justice in the case of those students who are yet to appear before the courts."
WATCH: Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Michael Masutha say the constitution confers on the president the power to grant pardon/reprieve to offenders #FeesMustFall pic.twitter.com/m4DQmEtCW1
— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) August 27, 2018
WATCH: Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Michael Masutha talk about plans to guide students in making applications to the NPA #FeesMustFall pic.twitter.com/CD85Cn4PXl
— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) August 27, 2018
The Justice Minister also undertook to guide the students in making applications to the NPA for the review of prosecutorial decisions in cases of students who are already charged and whose matters are currently on trial.
"The Ministry of Justice will guide the students on the process of compiling applications for presidential pardon for those students seeking to make such applications," said Masutha.
The minister highlighted that presidential pardons are granted in respect of convicted and sentenced persons only on the basis of the information they provide, and in circumstances where the applicant has shown "good cause".
He said "under no circumstances can presidential pardon be pre-determined".
The department said it was ready to begin with the process as soon as the students have submitted their applications with the relevant information.
However, the students said they did not have an agreement with Masutha although they were willing to work with him to make the application. Students wanted nothing else but a pardon and instead, Masutha gave them "a lecture" on the constitution.
Convicted Bonginkosi Khanyile spoke at the briefing while his mother Phumzile Khathini watched from the audience seats. Khanyile refused to seat at the front with Masutha at the same time, demonstrating that no agreement reached.
He said students sought nothing but a pardon of all students but Masutha was offering a very sluggish process of relooking every case whilst allowing the National Prosecuting Authority to continue prosecuting and convicting students as per normal.