Shaik spotted driving BMW

Call for fresh Shaik probe

An eThekwinini DA councillor has expressed shock at seeing Schabir Shaik driving a luxury BMW in Durban's Musgrave area on Monday afternoon.

"He looked perfectly healthy. I was really shocked," said Dean McPherson.

"The department of correctional services needs to give us an explanation why Schabir Shaik was released from jail," he said.

Shaik was released on medical parole on 3 March after serving two years and four months of a 15 year prison term for fraud and corruption.

If Shaik were as gravely ill as was contended when he was released, he would not be driving around alone, said McPherson, adding that there was no way his health could have improved so quickly.

"I was driving in the Musgrave area when I saw him coming out of a house in Essenwood road.

"I decided to follow him. He pulled over to buy balloons on the side of the road," said McPherson, who proceeded to take a video of Shaik driving his car.

"I am even willing to give eye-witness testimony in a court of law," he said.

Shaik was convicted of two counts of corruption and one of fraud, relating to, among other things, his facilitation of a bribe, allegedly paid by French arms company Thint to President Jacob Zuma.

The charges against Zuma and Thint were later dropped when it emerged that there was political interference in the investigation of the case.

The Shaik family was not available for comment.