Schabir Shaik stayed at the exclusive Zululand game lodge Thanda Private Game Reserve for three nights in June on a luxury safari junket, shortly after he was released from prison on medical parole, the Mail & Guardian has learned.

This would have been a clear violation of the fraud convict's parole conditions. At the time Shaik was allowed to leave his house only between 10.30am and 12.30pm on Wednesdays to attend physiotherapy, to visit a mosque on Fridays, and to spend free time on Saturdays between noon and 4pm.

Quizzed on his stay at Thanda this week, Shaik refused to comment.

The revelation comes two weeks after Rapport caught Shaik in the act of violating his parole conditions. As a result, the department of correctional services tightened his parole, allowing him to leave his house only for two hours over the weekend and issuing him with a formal warning.

His parole officer was also changed, while medical checkups must be conducted at his home.

Three sources close to Thanda, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the M&G that Shaik stayed at Thanda�s �royal suite� -- a private villa -- with his wife and a small child on June 13, 14 and 15 last year. He was released on medical parole in March.

They said during his stay he had no contact with anyone else, that staff were told to keep their distance and that his stay had to be completely confidential.

Thanda recently won the award for the World's Leading Luxury Lodge. Exclusive use of its villa, where Shaik stayed, costs R47 500 a night. It is unclear who paid for the three-night junket. A source familiar with the details told the M&G no money changed hands�, suggesting the stay was a gift.

The reserve is a regular haunt of senior politicians. The week before Shaik's stay former KwaZulu-Natal law and order minister and now national police commissioner Bheki Cele had dinner there.

Thanda describes the suite as 1 000 square metres of sheer unadulterated luxury. It is equipped with a private boma, library, cellar, business room with internet connectivity, games room, heated swimming pool and a magnificent viewing deck that looks out over a water hole.

The magnificent lounge filled with attractive Afro-chic decor is also equipped with a fireplace and a piano.

Thanda spokesperson Victoria Smith refused to confirm or deny a visit by Shaik.

Owing to the exclusive ethos of Thanda Private Game Reserve, the fact that it is a private and access-controlled environment, and our privacy policy obligations to our clients, regrettably I can neither confirm nor deny the allegations that you have put forward, she said.

We would like the M&G to �understand that we have hosted many local and international celebrities as well as prominent and occasionally controversial people, and as such, are in no position to divulge any details or information about any of the guests who have stayed with us. Our policy of strict guest confidentiality has always been observed.

Businessman Shaik was sentenced to 15 years in prison after a corruption trial in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in 2006. He was convicted on two counts of corruption, including solicitation of an arms deal bribe for Jacob Zuma.

But in a controversial move he was released on medical parole in March, allegedly because he was suffering from a terminal illness.

He has applied for a presidential pardon. A spokersperson confirmed this week that the presidency is wading through 300 applications for pardon, including those of Shaik and apartheid killer Eugene de Kock.

The Sunday Independent reported this month that Zuma might be considering granting a pardon to De Kock as a possible trade-off for releasing Shaik.

De Kock said Zuma had met him in secret at Pretoria Central Prison in April last year, but the presidency denies this.

Shaik lost a number of his parole privileges as a result of the Rapport article. The newspaper took photographs of him at a Durban shopping centre carrying bread and magazines, and he also paid a visit to residents of the luxury security estate, The Essenwoods, outside the hours when he is allowed out of his home. He was driving his own BMX X6.

The story broke after months of Shaik spotting in Durban, where the prisons department had called for formal proof of parole violations before it could take action.

Critics complained that the correctional services sanctions were mere tokens, and that Shaik should have been returned to prison.

Shaik also granted an interview to Rapport after he was caught red-handed. He said his health was improving as a result of rest and a concoction of goji berries.

I'm on goji berries now. Someone told me that with them I'll make a miraculous recovery I'm hoping my eyesight will improve, he said.

He also became heated during the interview about the fact that he had not already been granted a presidential pardon. Why should I even be asking for a pardon? If three people were part of a so-called plot to elicit funds from the French, why are the French free, why is the president free and why is Shaik still sitting as a convict? he demanded.

He told Rapport: I'm allowed to go and collect my pharmaceuticals from the chemist. I'm allowed to go and see the doctor. I'm allowed to go
to the bank. All I've got to do is inform my correctional officer, which I have done.

I've been seen playing golf at the country club and at the July handicap. I've never been to a July in my life. I don't even like fucking racehorses. Then I'm seen running through the bushes at a shopping centre.

Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said further violations may result in a warrant of detention being issued, which could result in his re-incarceration. She also said that his behaviour will be monitored and may be reviewed after six months, in line with policy.

With acknowledgements to Yolandi Groenewald and Mail and Guardian.