A group calling itself the "Friends of Jackie Selebi" wants the former national police commissioner to be released on medical parole, its spokesman said on Friday.
"Lefika project is a special purpose vehicle established in pursuit of the campaign to release Mr Selebi on medical parole," Isaack Lesole said.
The group was formed when the Supreme Court of Appeal on December 2 rejected Selebi's bid to have his corruption conviction set aside.
"We started talking, like every one else, about him going to prison."
He said they felt he should not be incarcerated due to his deteriorating health. Two weeks ago they decided to lodge an application for Selebi to be released on medical parole.
"We can now confirm that a formal request has been lodged with both the office of the minister of correctional services and the national commissioner of correctional services as prescribed by the law."
Lesole said they believed Selebi fitted the profile of an offender who qualified for medical parole in terms of the Correctional Services Act and Correctional Matters Amendment Act.
Selebi was found guilty of corruption in July 2010 and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. He went to jail on December 5. (Sapa)
