Just nine months behind bars. That is the effective jail term Durban businessman and socialite Sifiso Zulu will most likely end up serving as a beneficiary of the special presidential remission announced by President Jacob Zuma recently.
KZN Correctional Services commissioner James Baxter told The Mercury on Monday that Zulu “definitely” qualified for the 18-month remission of sentence.
But only his good behaviour in prison would help to persuade the Correctional Services parole board to release him after he had served half of the remaining period, which is nine months.
This would mean that he could be out of jail in early February next year.
In September last year, Zulu was sentenced to an effective three years for culpable homicide, reckless or negligent driving, failing to stop at a red traffic light and failing to stop after an accident.
In 2008, Zulu was driving his BMW X5 when he crossed a red traffic light and crashed into a Colt Mitsubishi double cab bakkie carrying 14 churchgoers at the Masabalala Yengwa (NMR) Avenue/Somtseu Road intersection.
He was found to be responsible for the deaths of two people and for injuring another 12.
“He qualifies for the special pardon since he falls under the non-violent category of offenders. He was also sentenced before April 27 (the day Zuma announced the pardon).
The fact that he was registered in our system before April 27 qualifies him for the early release,” said Baxter.
When Zulu handed himself to prison officials on Saturday, he was found to be fit and in good shape.
Correctional Services spokeswoman Nokuthula Zikhali said he was then put in Medium B, which accommodates new prisoners.
Baxter said this pardon meant that 18 months would be deducted from Zulu’s sentence, leaving him with only 18 months in prison.
“But it would be up to the parole board to decide when he would qualify to be released to Correctional Services supervision. Most probably he would serve just more than nine months in prison,” said Baxter.
Zikhali said Zuma’s former financial adviser Schabir Shaik, had also qualified for the pardon.
“Although he had 18 months deducted from the sentence, Shaik will remain in the Correctional Services system for many years,” she said.
Baxter also presented to the media 204 female prisoners who were released from Durban’s Westville Prison on Monday as part of the presidential pardon.
They are among 506 inmates who will walk to their freedom before July 6.
Zulu’s lawyer Lonwabo Dandala, said he was still waiting for advice from Zulu’s legal team on whether to apply for bail pending a further appeal against sentence.
Meanwhile, Thami Ngema, who works as a prison officer at Westville Prison, said he was not happy that Zulu would not serve his full sentence.
His wife, Dudu, was left crippled after the accident.
“I still have to settle R170 000 for my car that was written off… yet Zulu started (his jail term) by having a party as his friends had thrown him a farewell party,” said Ngema. - The Mercury