Publication: Mail and Guardian
Issued:
Date: 2007-02-15
Reporter: Sapa
| Publication |
Mail and Guardian
|
| Date |
2007-02-15
|
|
Reporter
|
Sapa |
|
Web Link
|
www.mg.co.za
|
Minister
of Correctional Services Ngconde Balfour on Thursday ordered that convicted
Durban businessman and fraud convict Schabir Shaik be removed from St
Augustine's Hospital in Durban and sent to Westville Prison
*1.
Balfour said he made the decision, effective immediately,
after viewing the reports of two private practitioners and a
third medical report by a doctor of the department *2.
Shaik has
been in Durban's St Augustine's Hospital for the past 83
days *3 to receive treatment for high blood pressure.
The medical
tests by prison authorities followed recent media reports questioning Shaik's
stay in hospital.
Medical scheme Discovery Health is also investigating
claims made by Shaik for his stay in the hospital. The scheme has blocked any
further payment until it has completed its investigation into the authenticity
of Shaik's condition, media reports said at the weekend.
Balfour said
Shaik is being sent to Westville prison as it is close to the hospital and to
Shaik's doctors and family.
"The step we have taken is in the best
interest of both the offender and the department," Balfour said in a statement.
He said Shaik's doctors will be granted free access to him at any time to
monitor his condition.
The department's own doctor and nurses will also
be available to Shaik, Balfour said.
"I have also instructed the
management of Durban Westville [prison] to ensure that appropriate medical
treatment is provided to him as we do to all other offenders of a similar state
of health and similar conditions."
Balfour said should any medication be
more than the department can afford, Shaik's family and his private doctors will
have to source that medication at their own expense, as prescribed by the
department's regulations.
He said all conditions applicable to Shaik's
classification when he was incarcerated at Qalakabusha prison will remain
applicable when he returns to Westville prison.
"I wish to reassure all
South Africans that no offender will be treated preferentially, but in terms of
the provisions of the Correctional Services Act and our regulations which ensure
access to private medical treatment at an offender's own expense," Balfour
said.
On Wednesday, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported
that a Department of Transport contract with one of Shaik's
companies hangs in the balance.
An announcement on the
department's dealings with Prodiba, which had been manufacturing credit-card-format driver's licences on behalf of the
government since 1998, is expected next week.
Shaik resigned as director of the Nkobi group of companies, but one of
his subsidiaries still holds shares in Prodiba. The Public
Finance Management Act forbids government departments from doing business with
convicted criminals.
With acknowledgements to Sapa and Mail and Guardian.
*1 Schabir desperately wanted to
avoid Westville Prision and was lucky to get transferred after just one day to
Qalakabusha Prison.
It is ironic that his hypochondria has got him back
to where he started, albeit temporarily in the prison
infirmary.
*2 It is clear that these reports, as
well as the action taken on their recommendation, indicate hypochondria. But it
would still be very interesting to see these
reports.
*3 83 days in St Augustine's Hospital
cost 5 394 days in Westville Prison.