EDITOR – The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Michael Masutha, must deny Schabir Shaik’s application to have his medical parole converted to ordinary parole.
This comes after reports this afternoon alleging that the former financial advisor to President Jacob Zuma and convicted fraudster is to request the Correctional Services Minister convert his medical parole to ordinary parole. The reasons for this are not yet clear.
In any event, Shaik was granted medical parole in 2009 because he purported that he was terminally ill. Six years on and Shaik shows no signs of deteriorating health but has been reported to have led quite a robust life since. By making such a request, Shaik implicitly admits that he is, in fact, not terminal.
We suspected at the time that Shaik was not eligible for medical parole, but rather that he was receiving preferential treatment because he was closely linked to the President.
Additionally, Shaik knew that ordinary parole would not be granted two-and-half years into a fifteen-year sentence, and now wants the Correctional Services Minister to grant him ordinary parole ex post facto. Schabir cannot have his cake and eat it too.
If his request is granted it will indeed mean that the ANC in government has no regard for holding those close to Zuma accountable by manipulating the criminal justice system to protect members of ‘Zuma, Inc’.
Under no circumstances must the Correctional Services Minister consider this request. He must be open with the South African public and immediately deny that he will grant Mr Shaik application. Not to do so would further speculation and fuel the perception that he is looking on this request favourably.
Should Minister Masutha grant Shaik’s request the DA will seriously consider taking the decision on review.
Schabir Shaik made his bed and he must lie in it.
James Selfe MP
DA Shadow Minister of Correctional Services
