Will Shaik get a pardon?

2009-10-19 08:42

Lizel Steenkamp

Cape Town - The minister of justice has refused to reveal whether Schabir Shaik has applied for a presidential pardon.

Shaik - who was sentenced to 15 years in jail for his corrupt relationship with President Jacob Zuma - only served 28 months of his sentence before being released on medical parole in March.

The DA's suspicions were aroused when Justice Minister Jeff Radebe refused to answer a question in Parliament on whether Shaik had applied for a presidential pardon.

Radebe referred the DA to the presidency as "the presidency has the constitutional power to grant a pardon and not the minister".

According to James Selfe, DA spokesperson for correctional services, Radebe answered a similar enquiry from the IFP about two other individuals, confirming that applications for pardons for these particular individuals had been handed in to his department and that Zuma's office was handling it.

"Why does Radebe answer the IFP's question, but he isn't prepared to say whether Shaik has handed in an application?" Selfe asked.

- Beeld