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Queried: MPs are up in arms over the release of Jackie Selebi on parole.

MPs from across the political spectrum yesterday told Correctional Services Minister Sbu Ndebele and his senior officials that the process followed in releasing Selebi three weeks ago had not been transparent enough.

Selebi, who needs dialysis for kidney failure, was released from Pretoria Central Prison at the recommendation of an 11-member Medical Parole Advisory Board (MPAB).

He had served only 229 days of a 15-year prison sentence for corruption.

Critics suggest he enjoyed preferential treatment because of his membership of the ANC and the role he played in the Struggle.

DA MP James Selfe said Selebi's release had to be interrogated in view of the circumstances surrounding the medical parole granted to another top ANC member, Schabir Shaik. "The real problem we face is around the credibility of the medical parole system as a whole because we have a very clear situation of a particularly high-profile member of the ruling party who was as fit as a fiddle and swans around Durban playing golf and living the high life," Selfe said.

"So when another high-profile member of the ruling party is released on medical parole, you have a credibility problem. A person in the street does not believe that the system works properly."

Cope MP Bushy Mnguni said Ndebele and his team needed to convince the public that Selebi was not released because of his background in the ANC.

However, national commissioner of correctional services Tom Moyane strongly defended the decision to grant Selebi parole, saying the MPAB had overseen the entire process.

"In this particular instance, I believe we have done what is acceptable by law and within the parameters of ethics within which we practice," Moyane said.

He said his department had not received an application for medical parole from Clive Derby-Lewis, the man serving a life sentence for the murder of SACP general secretary Chris Hani.

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Mon May 20 05:15:09 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 8, 2012

19Doubleiets

I mean why not! Jackie has the money and the power to buy himself off of prison and make it look like his out due to medical parole. Shabiar Shaik did it. Its a money and power thing, people better deal with it. I would also do the same if i were jailed and had the power to go out.
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Aug 8, 2012

MommaC

It is going to be sooooo funny watching them try and wiggle around the Derby-Lewis issue.

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Aug 8, 2012

Mrazane

Yes people may doubt the process mara this is not another Schabir Schaik case, the old geezer is ill, if you know anyone suffering from kidney failure you will know that the man is ill he is on dialysis and that is nie pap and vleis, he is not playing golf, so I do not think he should suffer just because Msholozi did Schabir a favour. Schabir should be sent back inside as he is now fit to serve his sentence.
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Aug 8, 2012

lindsay

what are they crying for are they crying that Keeble's murderers are still out and never seen a jail cell are they crying that the drug lord agliotti never seen the jail cell please people the dude is sick let go of the grudges already
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Aug 8, 2012

CYBORICO

what happened to walus jalus being Hani killer who is this derby lewis now
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Aug 8, 2012

Papage

Let us correct things, if he is fit again,can he please go serve his last sentence, just like Shabir, I think he must go back and to his full term.
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Aug 8, 2012

lindsay

Jackie didn't ki ll nor conspire to k ill any one like derby lewis so the cases are not the same people
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Aug 8, 2012

MommaC

lindsay

..... but his actions left many people dead anyhow.

You cannot possibly tell me that the crime rate in SA and the drugs in SA are not killing people. A lot of that is directly due to Selebi's conduct. He may not have handed the criminals the guns but he certainly handed them the information which allowed them to avoid being caught,
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Aug 8, 2012

malemaforpresident

The ANC let Government is just confused If that is the case so let the justice system release Derby-Lewis it is very much unfair what about schabir then Yengeni why opening their big mouth now nxaaa
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Aug 8, 2012

candilious

Jus t heard that Selebi suffered a stroke he cannot see .............tjo speechles
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