Convicted of fraud, admitted to lying about his qualifications and closely involved with Jacob Zuma, the Durban businessman Schabir Shaik was sent to prison. On 2 June 2005 he was sentenced to serve 15 years in jail.
His shady business dealings implicated Jacob Zuma to such an extend that former president Thabo Mbeki dismissed Zuma as deputy President. Lo and behold, Zuma barely landed on his feet (as was to be expected) and took over the presidency, before he released his buddy on medical parole on 3rd of March 2009 after serving only 2 years and 4 months of his sentence.
The “desperately ill” man, suffering from high blood pressure and a heart condition was rather well enough for a lovely long weekend at the very luxurious Thanda Game Reserve and play a round of golf from time to time.
This morning Front Nasionaal Suid-Afrika heard in the political grapevine that Shaik now applied for his medical parole to be changed into ordinary parole. One cannot help but wonder whether he wants to add night-clubbing, skiing in the Alps, hunting, action sports, ballroom dancing, yachting, horseracing etc to his “recuperation” on the way to being a healthy man again.
And yet, Clive Derby-Lewis, at 79 and having served 21 years in jail being terminally ill is still behind bars.
Is it possible that Clive is just not in the criminal league of a Schabir Shaik, or is he not big enough friends with the top man, whose own record by now plays “Tom Dooley” when you wind the gramophone up!
By Daniel Lötter Department Information
Front Nasionaal Suid Afrika
South Africa Today – South Africa News
