The controversy around the medical parole granted to fraudster Schabir Shaik continued on Wednesday with prison authorities saying the move would not be reviewed.

The ruling African National Congress entered the fray saying neither the party nor its leader had any prior knowledge of the parole board's decision to release Shaik who had served 28 months of a 15-year jail term for fraud and corruption.

"The minister has looked at the report, applied his mind, and decided the matter is correct," said correctional services spokesman Manelisi Wolela.

"I understand the public opinion is mounting but on the basis of the report, the minister has already applied his mind. There is no legal basis for sending it for review," said Wolela.

Shaik was released from prison on Tuesday and returned to his family in an ambulance.

"Neither the ANC president, Jacob Zuma, or [the] organisation knew of the pending release of Schabir Shaik," said party spokesman Brian Sokutu.

"This matter has been handled by the department of correctional services so it's very much a matter for correctional services."

Some opposition political parties accused Shaik of using his political connections to get an early release from prison.

Shaik's family on Wednesday rejected accusations that he was not ill.

"Political parties must submit their medical qualifications to me, then I'll respond," said his brother Moe Shaik.

Minister of Correctional Services Ngconde Balfour said on Tuesday that Shaik satisfied the law's requirement that a medical parolee had to be in a "terminal condition".

"I am of the view that the decision they made is correct," said Balfour.

On Wednesday, SA Human Rights Commission chairman Jody Kollapen said Shaik's parole should be further reviewed.

"I think, maybe what should happen, broadly, in the public interest --and I know the minister has indicated that he is satisfied the decision was the correct one -- [but] given, I think, the public interest in this matter, perhaps there should be a referral to the review board," Kollapen told SABC radio news on Wednesday.

"Perhaps, what may be appropriate, is for the minister, or indeed the commissioner, to refer this to a review board. There is lots of concern out there by prisoners that the policy is not being applied consistently," said Kollapen

Shaik was financial advisor to ANC president Jacob Zuma. He was sentenced to 15 years in jail in 2005 on two counts of corruption and one of fraud, which, among other things, related to an alleged bribe he negotiated between Zuma and a French arms company.

Shaik spent most of his time served in prison in hospital due to high blood pressure, depression and chest pains.

Zuma said at the weekend that, given Shaik's health, he should have been released long ago.

On Wednesday, the Mercury reported details of Shaik's stay in hospital.

The paper quoted hospital nurses who alleged that Shaik's family had brought him take-aways, including Debonair's and Steers, and he often met his son, Yasir, in the hospital's coffee shop.

It also claimed that Shaik, in contravention of policy, was not handcuffed to his bed like other patients, but was allowed to move freely.