shift to Durban Westville
15 February 2007
After reviewing medical reports of two private medical practitioners of
offender Schabir Shaik and a third medical report of Correctional Services'
Doctor N Ndebele, I have today instructed our Regional Commissioner Mr Nathi
Nhleko to take offender Shaik back to one of our correctional centres � Durban
Westville with immediate effect.
We have chosen Durban Westville Correctional Centre because of its proximity
to St Augustine Hospital, where Shaik was admitted and treated by his private
doctors and which is also close to his doctors and family. The decision to move
him from St Augustine to Durban Westville is based purely on the medical
reports of the two private doctors and the third report of a Correctional
Services doctor who made an assessment on my instruction.
The step we have taken is in the best interest of both the offender and the
department. Reasonably free access to offender Shaik's private doctors will be
granted at any given time so as to monitor his condition. The Department's own
doctor will also be available as she is to all other offenders. Even the
nursing staff will be available around the clock. I have also instructed the
management of Durban Westville to ensure that appropriate medical treatment is
provided to him as we do to all other offenders of a similar state of health
and similar conditions.
If any medication should be more than the department can afford, the family
and his private doctors will have to source that medication at their own
expense as our regulations � B orders - prescribe. All conditions applicable to
his classification when he was incarcerated at Qalakabusha will remain
applicable when he returns to Durban Westville Correctional Centre.
I wish to reassure all South Africans that no offender will be treated
preferentially, but in terms of the provisions of the Correctional Services Act
and our regulations which ensure access to private medical treatment at an
offender's own expense.
Enquiries:
Luphumzo Kebeni
Director: Media Liaison
Ministry of Correctional Services
Tel: (021) 462 2314
Fax: (021) 465 4375
Cell: 082 453 2244
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
15 February 2007
