African National Congress (ANC) Councillor, Andile Lungisa set to be released on parole

The African National Congress (ANC) Councillor from  Nelson Mandela Bay, Andile Lungisa set to be released on parole this December 2020.

The Eastern Cape High Court in Grahamstown found him guilty of aggravated assault and later sentenced him to two years in prison.

It comes after he hit Ryno Kayser, a fellow Democratic Alliance (DD) adviser, on the head with a glass of water during a heated argument in 2016 panel.

Lungisa refused to go down without a fight and appealed the decision to the Supreme Court of Appeals (OGP), which rejected his appeal.

According to a statement released by the Department of Correctional Services said:  – “This parole placement means that Lungisa will serve the remainder of the sentence in the system of community corrections, wherein he will be expected to comply with a specific set of conditions and will be subjected to supervision until the sentence expires,” the Department of Correctional Services said in a statement.

“Classified as a first time offender with a positive support system, and have responded positively to rehabilitation programmes, parole placement for Lungisa is in line with Section 73(7)(a) of the Correctional Services Act. The Act determines the minimum period of a sentence that must be served before consideration for possible parole placement” –  Department of Correctional Services.

The court has strongly emphasized that as with any parole, certain conditions must be met, and few can see that Lungisa has to be sent back to prison if he fails to comply with the conditions.

“South Africa is using a parole system that is progressive in nature and based on international best practice. Offenders who are placed on parole are expected to comply with conditions and failure to comply may result in a parolee, depending on the frequency and seriousness of the violations, having parole revoked and sent back to a correctional facility,” the department further said.

In August, he reported to the North End Prison in the Eastern Cape, while he awaited the outcome the application for bail pending a decision by the Constitutional Court, which he had approached to challenge the ruling.

Lungisa was granted R10 000 bail, however, in another twist – he chose to stay in prison.

The ANC opted to part ways with Lungisa, in the wake of the courts reaffirming the initial ruling.

Lungisa, a fierce supporter of former president Jacob Zuma, called for the party to investigate Cyril Ramaphosa’s controversial CR17 campaign funding. For many other Zuma allies, the decision to suspend him and by extension, the court case, could be seen as a move being made by the Ramaphosa faction in the party.