Reports that President Zuma is on the verge of granting a presidential pardon to Schabir Shaik, and returning the money seized from him, certainly constitute cause for concern (see article).

Shaik's sentence has been a farce. He served less than two and a half years of his 15 year sentence and of the time he served, he spent the majority of it in hospital, some of which was at a private hospital at his own cost - even though a Correctional Services spokesperson said at the time that Shaik will "be a prisoner like everyone else and will be treated normally".

It is particularly concerning that the reports suggest that the president may somehow try to ‘offset' Shaik's pardon by accompanying it with the early release of Janus Walusz and Clive Derby Lewis. The Democratic Alliance hopes that this is merely speculation and not a serious consideration. Crimes must be punished and sentences must be upheld. The criminal justice system must not be tampered with by political favouritism, nor by a game of political chess.

Justice has not been served for Schabir Shaik. He was released on medical parole in March of this year, even though he was and is clearly not in the final phases of a terminal illness - which is required for medical parole to be granted lawfully. In short, under no circumstances can the president grant Schabir Shaik a presidential pardon.

Statement issued by James Selfe, MP, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of correctional services, November 16 2009

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