PORT ELIZABETH - REPORTS OF ANDILE LUNGISA'S PAROLE RELEASE ON DECEMBER 1 ARE UNFOUNDED CLAIMS CORRECTIONAL DEPT

The Correctional Services Department has described as unfounded reports that former Nelson Mandela Bay ANC councillor Andile Lungisa will be released on parole on the first of December.

Lungisa is currently serving his two-year prison sentence for assault with intent to do grievous bodily after hitting DA Councillor Ryno Kayser on the head with a glass jug in 2016 during a council meeting.

The High Court in Makhanda granted Lungisa bail of R10 000 last month, while he was waiting for the outcome of appeal in the Constitutional Court.

However, Lungisa opted to remain in custody.

“As the Department, we never make prior announcements when inmates are to be considered for parole placement as this is not a right but a privilege but all inmates must earn,” says Correctional Services Spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo.

The family of the former deputy president of the ANC Youth League, however, insists that he will be out of prison soon.

His younger brother Ayongezwa Lungisa says has signed all the documentation of his release as he has served a quarter of his sentence.

“He in daylight went to the North End prison to commence his sentence on the 17th of September. Upon serving his sentence Mr Lungisa subjected himself to all the programmes all inmates in South Africa are required to partake in. amongst those programmes is anger management. Upon assessment done by the correctional services in Port Elizabeth it was determined that Mr Lungisa will be released in prison on the 1st of December,” he says.