Releasing terminally ill prisoners on medical parole in South Africa

Abstract

The release on medical parole of a prominent and influential South African businessman – Mr. Schabir Shaik, who served less than three years of his 15 year prison term, put the issue of medical parole in the spotlight with several newspapers articles, radio stations and television channels expressing different views regarding his release. There were also allegations the medical officers who had recommended his release had acted unprofessionally – until they were vindicated by the SA Health Professional’s Council. This article discusses the law relating to medical parole in South Africa, cases where courts have released offenders on medical parole and gives statistics of offenders that have been released on medical parole since 1996.