The Inkatha Freedom Party has taken note of reports that Schabir Shaik has been released from hospital and that he has been granted medical parole.

The move comes as no surprise to the IFP and it proves that if you are an ANC comrade anything is possible: even a get out of jail free card.

"Shaik's stint in prison was nothing more than a farce and a waste of taxpayers' money. It is really a sad day for our fight against crime and corruption when a convicted fraudster is able to manipulate the system in such a way that he is released from prison having served only two years and four months of his 15-year term - most of that time in hospital. It is a joke!" said Sybil Seaton, IFP Correctional Services Spokesperson today.

The Correctional Services Act is very clear on medical parole rules. Shaik must be in the final stages of a terminal illness to qualify for medical parole.

"We believe that the Department of Correctional Services has requested a written report from the parole board to investigate wheter procedures have been followed appropriately in arriving at the decision. As this case is in the public interest, we call on the Minister to make that report public as soon as possible. As South African citizens, we need some clarity on whether this was just another case of the ANC using and abusing their power and whether this is a legitimate process or not," concluded Seaton.

Statement issued by Inkatha Freedom Party correctional services spokesperson, Sybil Seaton, March 3 2009

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