Fraudster Schabir Shaik is back in Durban's Westville Prison, after being
admitted to hospital earlier this month.
It is not certain how long he was in hospital or when he was taken back to
prison, but Correctional Services confirmed on Tuesday that Shaik had been
discharged from Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital after undergoing certain
tests.
He was admitted to hospital because of fears that his blood pressure was
deteriorating and certain of his organs could be damaged.
Correctional Services regional commissioner Nathi Nhleko said he did not know
Shaik's present medical condition, and even if he did, he would not disclose it.
Shaik's brother Yunus was also in the dark about his sibling's condition, saying
he had not viewed his medical report or seen him since he was admitted to
hospital.
He did say, however, that Shaik was "as sick as a dog".
Last May, cardiologists S Ponnusamy and S Khan, who were treating Shaik at
Albert Luthuli Hospital, reported he had "severe uncontrolled hypertension
despite being on multiple drug therapy".
He needed more tests to ensure there was no long-term harm to his liver and
eyes.
In November, Shaik was admitted to hospital after a mild stroke.
Since his conviction, Shaik has spent several months in hospital - 36 days at
Albert Luthuli in May and two months in the prison infirmary before that.
He also spent 83 days in a private ward at Durban's St Augustine's Hospital.
*This article was originally published on page 3 of
The Star on
April 23, 2008