Dressed in an orange prison uniform, convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik cut a sad figure as he was escorted out of St Augustine's Hospital to continue serving his sentence behind bars.
But instead of going back to serve the rest of his 15-year term in the far-flung Qalakabusha jail, Shaik will remain close to his family.
“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 which is also close to his doctors and family,” Correctional Services minister Ngconde Balfour said on Thursday.
Shaik will reportedly be placed in a general ward in the prison's hospital section.
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Balfour said: “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.”
The head of parliament's correctional services portfolio committee Dennis Bloem said he could only comment on the matter once he had examined the medical reports related to Shaik's case.
Shaik has been in hospital for close to 100 days and has reportedly rung up a bill of more than R600 000 during his stay.
Last week Correctional Services minister Ngconde Balfour sent a specialist to conduct a medical examination on Shaik to determine if he was really ill or if he was faking an illness to remain in the private hospital.
This was after he reviewed the reports submitted by two private medical practitioners who diagnosed Shaik and that of a third doctor who was sent by the department.
A nurse at St Augustine's hospital, who spoke to the Daily News on condition of anonymity, said a convoy of correctional services officers accompanied Shaik as they drove off with him just before 4pm.
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