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The Correctional Services Minister would not reveal the identities of the doctors who diagnosed and approved Schabir Shaik's release.
Schabir Shaik outside a shop on 25 July 2012 in Durban. Picture: Gallo Images / Franco Megannon
The Department of Correctional Services has revealed extremely limited information about the monitoring of convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik’s health since his controversial medical parole release in 2009.
Minister of Correctional Services Dr. Pieter Groenewald recently responded to questions from the DA’s Michele Clarke regarding the oversight of Shaik’s medical condition.
Details of Schabir Shaik’s doctors protected
When asked about the medical professionals who diagnosed and approved Shaik’s release, Groenewald cited privacy regulations as a barrier to disclosure.
“The names of the doctors should be requested in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia), 04 of 2013,” Groenewald stated.
He applied the same privacy restriction to questions about their qualifications and employment positions.
While declining to reveal the identities of individual medical professionals, the minister confirmed that the Durban Correctional Supervision and Parole Board approved Shaik’s release.
Regarding Shaik’s specific medical diagnosis, Groenewald emphasised confidentiality requirements.
“In terms of ethical and legal requirements, patient information must be kept confidential, thus ensuring maintenance of professional secrecy,” he stated.
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No ongoing health monitoring required
The minister clarified that the department has no obligation to monitor the health of parolees released on medical grounds.
“The department did a medical assessment on the parolee before he was released on medical parole.
“There is no provision by DCS Medical Parole Policy for reassessment of any parolee,” Groenewald explained.
He added that Shaik “was consulting his own medical doctor and psychologist” and that he had complied with his parole conditions, including “house arrest, office consultation, social work programmes and was monitored as per policy”.
The department also does not provide ongoing medical treatment to those released on medical parole.
“Offenders placed on medical parole are provided with referral letters for continuity of care in the community,” added the minister.
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Schabir Shaik’s controversial release
Shaik, who had close ties to former president Jacob Zuma, was convicted of fraud and corruption in 2005 and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
His release on medical parole in 2009 came after serving just two years and four months of his sentence, as he was deemed “terminally ill” at the time.
The circumstances surrounding his parole were widely criticised as unlawful, eventually leading to amendments to section 79 of the Correctional Services Act to strengthen the requirements for medical parole.
Shaik’s sentence officially expired in January 2020, making him a free man.
He has since become a member of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, led by Zuma.
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