The Constitutional Court has heard victims of politically-motivated crimes have the right to be heard in the interest of national reconciliation.

Convicted killer and former AWB member Ryan Albutt asked the court to reinstate a pardons process that could see him and others released from jail.

The appeal is supported by President Jacob Zuma.

A network of South African civil society organisations is challenging the process, saying victims were not given the opportunity to have their say before perpetrators were released.

The North Gauteng High Court earlier this year granted an interim interdict, preventing the president from enacting the process.

The applicant's legal team argued NGOs challenging the appeal did not have the standing to do so.

They could instead have asked for an explanation from the president, clarifying why he was considering some criminals for pardon.

Micel Schnehage