CORRECTIONAL Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, pictured, has scheduled a media briefing about convicted former police chief Jackie Selebi's health, amid reports yesterday that he was "fighting for his life".
The minister's spokesman, Zacharia Modise, declined to give an update on Selebi's health yesterday, saying Mapisa-Nqakula would address the issue at a press briefing today.
"I would not want to make any pronouncements on the matter at this stage. Let's wait to hear what the minister will say," he said.
Selebi, 61, was taken to the nephrology (kidney) ward of the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in northern Pretoria on Monday morning under armed guard. The department said he was undergoing tests.
The New Age newspaper reported yesterday that Selebi's health was deteriorating fast. The report, citing unnamed "well-placed sources", said Selebi was having dialysis for kidney failure every four hours. Headlined on its website, "Selebi fights for his life", The New Age report said his family feared that, though his name was on a waiting list for a transplant, he might not be granted the opportunity because he was a convicted criminal.
This would mean a death sentence, but Correctional Services said Selebi would not be discriminated against on the basis of a criminal record.
The newspaper claimed Selebi was only scheduled to start dialysis in January. However, the shock of losing his case in the Supreme Court of Appeal earlier this month was so severe he suffered kidney failure and had twice been admitted for emergency treatment.
Selebi's lawyer, Wynanda Coetzee, was not available for comment yesterday.
Selebi critically ill
CORRECTIONAL Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, pictured, has scheduled a media briefing about convicted former police chief Jackie Selebi's health, amid reports yesterday that he was "fighting for his life".
The minister's spokesman, Zacharia Modise, declined to give an update on Selebi's health yesterday, saying Mapisa-Nqakula would address the issue at a press briefing today.
"I would not want to make any pronouncements on the matter at this stage. Let's wait to hear what the minister will say," he said.
Selebi, 61, was taken to the nephrology (kidney) ward of the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in northern Pretoria on Monday morning under armed guard. The department said he was undergoing tests.
The New Age newspaper reported yesterday that Selebi's health was deteriorating fast. The report, citing unnamed "well-placed sources", said Selebi was having dialysis for kidney failure every four hours. Headlined on its website, "Selebi fights for his life", The New Age report said his family feared that, though his name was on a waiting list for a transplant, he might not be granted the opportunity because he was a convicted criminal.
This would mean a death sentence, but Correctional Services said Selebi would not be discriminated against on the basis of a criminal record.
The newspaper claimed Selebi was only scheduled to start dialysis in January. However, the shock of losing his case in the Supreme Court of Appeal earlier this month was so severe he suffered kidney failure and had twice been admitted for emergency treatment.
Selebi's lawyer, Wynanda Coetzee, was not available for comment yesterday.
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