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Shaik 'could be a prison asset'
09/11/2006 23:02 - (SA)
Durban - Convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik spent mere hours in the overcrowded Westville prison on Thursday before being moved to a new prison at Empangeni, where he could have only one cell-mate.
The SA Prisoners' Organisation for Human Rights (SAPOHR) says Shaik could become an asset to his fellow prisoners there.
Shaik arrived at the Westville prison shortly after 09:00, seated alone in the back of a police van.
The van sped through the prison gate before stopping a few metres inside, from where Shaik waved to the media and warders before it made its way to the cells.
Dressed in a plain white T-shirt, blue jeans and takkies, Shaik earlier addressed the media outside the Durban High Court where he had gone to have his fingerprints taken and complete paperwork before his arrival at the prison.
A morose-looking Shaik commented: "This is a trying time for my family. I wish my family all of the very best, especially my wife and my son.
"My heart is at peace and I am walking in the path of my Lord."
Confusion over prison
Despite confirmation from several sources that Shaik was indeed transferred to Empangeni, a correctional services spokesperson denied it.
A warder at Empangeni told a Witness reporter he saw Shaik at that prison, and three sources confirmed the move to Sapa, but national correctional services spokesperson Luphumpzo Kebeni said: "As far as I know, Shaik was not transferred. I don't know where these stories come from."
The police officer who drove Shaik to Westville prison remarked to the media as he left the prison again an hour later: "He won't be here long."
And moments after a prison van left Westville prison at noon, warders told the media: "There he goes!"
No ANC send-off
Meanwhile, in contrast to the hero's send-off given to former ANC whip Tony Yengeni when he reported to prison earlier this year, there was no visible ANC presence at the prison on Thursday.
ANC Youth League spokesperson Senzo Mkhize said a lot of party members have not been escorted to jail and that there was no need to do that with Shaik.
"Please don't compare Shaik and Tony Yengeni because Yengeni was a member of the national executive committee of the party and they are not the same. For Yengeni, it was politically relevant," he said.
He added that the party is mainly concerned about its deputy president, Jacob Zuma.
Shaik 'could be an asset to fellow prisoners'
Although sentenced to 15 years in jail, Shaik might serve five years or less.
According to Marcus Gumede of the KZN Law Society, prisoners should serve a third of their sentence in custody as stipulated by the new law.
"It depends on the nature of the crime, though. White-collar crime could mean serving less than a third," he said.
KZN head of the SAPOHR, Derrick Mdluli, said Shaik could be an asset to fellow prisoners.
"He could become a teacher or develop their skills and take his mind off the fact that he is imprisoned."
However, Mdluli warned that the organisation will keep a close eye on the treatment Shaik receives.
"It doesn't matter how much money you are worth," he said.
- The Witness
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