The media’s lack of respect has been cited as the reason for the blackout on the condition of disgraced former police commissioner Jackie Selebi.
|||Hospital and Correctional Services officials have enforced a media blackout on the condition of disgraced former police commissioner Jackie Selebi.
The media’s lack of respect for Selebi has been cited.
The closing of ranks comes after the former police chief was rushed into the intensive care unit at Steve Biko Academic Hospital at the weekend after his health suddenly deteriorated.
Neither hospital nor Correctional Services officials would be drawn on Selebi’s health on Monday.
Selebi had been in the hospital’s nephrology (kidney) unit, under Correctional Services guard, until his health deteriorated.
Correctional Services’ chief deputy commissioner, Zachary Modise, would not be drawn on Selebi’s condition on Monday.
“It is not fair. What you media are doing is not right. It is not only putting Mr Selebi under a lot of stress, but it is also causing great distress for his family.
“Selebi’s family have requested us not to divulge anything about his condition and we will not. It is not fair for us to report on Selebi’s health when we have more than 150 000 offenders and we do not talk about their health.”
Hospital spokeswoman Fredah Kobo declined to comment and referred all questions back to the Correctional Services Department.
Selebi was admitted to hospital after collapsing at home last month soon after hearing he had lost his appeal against his conviction and 15-year sentence for corruption.