The Congress of the People (Cope) has accused the ANC of shielding its criminal members.
The party was reacting to former President Jacob Zuma’s special remission.
Zuma was arrested in 2021 after refusing to appear before the commission investigating allegations of state capture.
Only two months into his 15-month term, he was given medical parole.
The Constitutional Court, however, determined that the parole was illegally granted.
Zuma was arrested again on Friday but freed less than two hours later.
The government declared that he was one of almost 9,000 offenders incarcerated for nonviolent offences who would have their sentences commuted.
The move was supported by Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola, who stated that it was intended to ease congestion at some jail facilities.
Yet, political parties are not convinced.
“For as long as the ANC is the governing party, no ANC leader will ever wear an orange uniform,” said Cope’s Dennis Bloem.
“This special remission to release Zuma is nothing else but preferential treatment.”
According to Action SA, the rule of law is rarely applied to people in power.
The DA, on the other hand, claimed that there were definitely double standards applied to ANC leaders, particularly Zuma.
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