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Judge Siraj Desai today admitted in a portfolio committee meeting that Schabir Shaik's controversial release on medical parole has damaged the credibility of the parole system. The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes Desai's calls to amend laws governing medical parole. The decision to grant Schabir Shaik medical parole has become an extremely controversial matter as it is believed that Mr Shaik did not qualify for release in terms of the provisions of the Act. This scepticism undermined the credibility of the parole system as a whole, something that Judge Desai, Chairperson of the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board has today conceded. As the law now stands, only the Minster or the Commissioner can refer a parole decision for review. The DA requested both the former and current ministers of Correctional Services to refer Shaik's parole decision for review - these requests were refused.
Desai has now suggested that the law be amended to allow the National Council for Corrections to be given the power to review parole decisions if the appropriate representations are made. These suggested changes go a long way toward making the parole process more transparent and credible. The DA welcomes these suggestions and will endorse any such changes. South Africa currently has two parole systems; one for the rich and politically connected and another for those that do not have connections and are often ignored. These amendments are necessary if any further political influences in the parole system are to be avoided.