The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

Following a Democratic Alliance (DA) statement which exposed that Schabir Shaik has applied for a Presidential Pardon on 24 April 2008, the Presidency responded late yesterday to officially confirm that he had indeed applied. The government has not been forthcoming with information regarding Mr Shaik, right from the conditions surrounding his medical parole through to his application for pardon. The DA will continue to expose information on the convicted fraudster and his ANC allies and to vigorously oppose the granting of this application. President Zuma has been in office for nearly half a year and in all this time, has not been honest with the public. The application was lodged 18 months ago and the Presidency has kept this tightly under wraps. Why did Zuma not tell the public? Why did the Department of Justice duck the DA's parliamentary question in this regard? What role did the Department of Justice play in this matter? What is there to hide? The government is essentially conducting public business behind closed doors and so the dubious relationship between Zuma and Shaik continues. Shaik served less than two and a half years of his 15 year sentence. 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". Shaik was released on medical parole in March of this year, even though he was and is clearly not at the final phases of a terminal illness - a requirement for the granting of medical parole. He has received favoured treatment from the outset and he now is possibly facing a pardon. Shaik's sentence has been an absolute farce and a travesty of justice. Under no circumstances must the President consider this application. He must be open with the South African public and immediately state that he will not grant Mr Shaik's application. Not to do so would further fuel speculation and the perception that he is looking on this request favourably. The DA will continue to probe and expose the dubious relationship of Schabir Shaik and the government.