Cape Town ­ Mounting disquiet over the medical parole obtained by convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik has led opposition parties to call for a full investigation into the circumstances in which it was granted.

This followed revelations yesterday that Shaik, who is said to be suffering from high blood pressure, was declared medically fit to return to prison by a top medical professional in November last year.

In terms of the Correctional Services Act a prisoner has to be in the final stage of a terminal disease to qualify for medical parole. But the Sunday Times reported that Shaik was discharged from Inkosi Albert Luthuli hospital by the head of its cardiology unit, Prof DP Naidoo, personally in November.

According to the report, the Department of the Correctional Services apparently blocked Shaik’s return to prison.

Naidoo would not be drawn into a discussion on Shaik’s medical condition yesterday, saying he was not at liberty to discuss it and would only make a statement if compelled to do so. He did not want to pass judgment on whether it was feasible for Shaik to be healthy enough for a medical discharge in November and for him to be declared terminally ill in March.

He stressed in an interview that there was not necessarily an anomaly between his finding in November and the decision of the parole board. Shaik was suffering from high blood pressure, which was “difficult to control”, Naidoo said.

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) called on President Kgalema Motlanthe to institute an investigation into the decision, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) plans to ask the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) to investigate the matter. The Congress of the People has called for an inquiry by acting national director of public prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe.

DA correctional services spokesman James Selfe said there appeared to be “ serious anomalies” associated with the granting of the medical parole. He said Parliament’s correctional services committee was told in August that Shaik was ill but not terminally.

“Given that all of the available evidence suggests the Mr Shaik is not in the final phase of a terminal disease, but that the three medical practitioners treating him have found otherwise, we believe that the HPCSA can and must conduct an inquiry that will ensure that professional medical standards are being upheld.”

In an open letter to Motlanthe, UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said the president “could no longer remain silent on this deepening crisis”. He said Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour’s actions seemed to be “part of a broader conspiracy to undermine the rule of law”.

“Minister Balfour’s behaviour smacks of somebody who is doing everything in his power to ingratiate himself with the incoming administration in order to ensure his reappointment,” Holomisa said.

ensorl@bdfm.co.za

With acknowledgements to Linda Ensor and Business Day.