Correctional Services minister denies claims of preferential treatment for fraudster

Convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik is back in jail, Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour announced this morning.

Addressing the National Assembly's correctional services committee, he said this followed a report he received from a correctional services doctor in KwaZulu Natal.

Shaik was referred to the Inkosi Albert Luthuli hospital over a month ago, after he spent two months at the Westville Prison's infirmary and a further 83 days at St Augustine's Private Hospital.

Prior to that he also spent two weeks of his sentence in the hospital section of Qalakabusha Prison in Empangeni, where he was treated for hypertension and other blood pressure-related issues.

Balfour told MPs: "As of 6am this morning Schabir Shaik is back in prison. I've got the report and based on that report I don't listen to anything else, I don't base my decision on anything else but the report from my doctor.

"The offender is back where he belongs." *1

Further details were not immediately available.

However, Balfour denied preferential treatment claims.

It has been alleged that Shaik is enjoying the life of a normal patient and has unlimited access to visitors. This promoted the DA's allegation that he was receiving special treatment because he was "connected to the ANC".

Also present at today's meeting was inspecting judge of prisons Nathan Erasmus.

Judge Erasmus said yesterday that Shaik had not received "any special treatment" while in hospital.

News that Shaik is back in prison, comes ahead of his case in the Constitutional Court, where his lawyers will challenge the constitutionality of his conviction, 15-year-sentence and the seizure of his assets.

Judge Erasmus said that prior to any reports about Shaik's treatment at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital appearing in the Sunday press, he had dispatched an investigator to probe "rumours" about Shaik's hospital conditions.

"We conducted an inspection at both Westville Prison (where Shaik had been serving his sentence) and the hospital itself.

"We checked the prison and medical records to confirm why Mr Shaik had been sent to hospital," he said, adding that he had contacted Shaik's physician for confirmation about his condition. "As far as he is concerned, Mr Shaik's condition warrants hospital treatment," the judge said.

The Star has learnt that Department of Correctional Services staff have requested certain medical reports from Shaik's doctors.

While confirming that Shaik was being held in a single ward, Judge Erasmus said it was "equipped only with the bare essentials" and was under constant guard.

Shaik's 15-year prison term for fraud relating to his relationship with former deputy president Jacob Zuma has been characterised by hospital dramas.

With acknowledgements to Sibusiso Ngalwa, Angela Quintal and Karyn Maughan and The Star