‘He’s pulling a Schabir Shaik’

Image: Beeld/Gallo Images/Getty Images

‘He’s pulling a Schabir Shaik’: Reactions to Zuma’s medical parole grant

Schabir Shaik served just two years of his 15-year sentence for fraud and corruption when he was granted medical parole in 2009

‘He’s pulling a Schabir Shaik’

Image: Beeld/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Social media has been awash with reactions to former president Jacob Zuma being placed on parole and South Africans are not holding back their thoughts on the news. While Zuma supporters have welcomed the development, others are outraged and claim he took a page out of Schabir Shaik’s book, his former financial advisor.

The Department of Correctional Services made the announcement on Sunday afternoon, 5 September 2021.

“Medical parole’s eligibility for Mr Zuma is impelled by a medical report received by the Department of Correctional Services. Apart from being terminally ill and physically incapacitated, inmates suffering from an illness that severely limits their daily activity or self-care can also be considered for medical parole,” said spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo.

Not too long after the news broke, Shaik also started dominating the trends list. He had served just two years and four months of his 15-year sentence for fraud and corruption, when he was granted medical parole in March 2009. At the time, Shaik was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Many have cast doubt around Shaik’s “terminal illness” and claimed it was all just a ploy to get Zuma’s longtime ally out of jail. Now after 12 years, the former president is accused of pulling the exact same stunt.

SA reacts to Zuma being placed on parole

Zuma was convicted by the Constitutional Court after he refused to appear before the State Capture Commission – a decision that was in violation of an order granted by the very same court. He’s got a tough road ahead of him as he is also in the middle of his corruption trial, which also involves Shaik.

Zuma faces 16 charges of fraud, corruption, racketeering, and money-laundering related to the controversial multi-billion rand arms deal in the late 1990s. The former president is alleged to have received 783 suspicious payments to the tune of R1.2 million from French arms manufacturer Thales, through Shaik.