There has been mixed reaction to fraudster Schabir Shaik being slapped with a formal warning for violating his parole conditions.

The warning was issued by Correctional Services on Tuesday after Shaik admitted he had breached the terms of his parole.

Photographs of Shaik driving his luxury 4x4, shopping and visiting a luxury residential estate in Durban last week have been splashed on newspapers in recent days.

Civil rights group AfriForum has welcomed the action against Shaik, saying the government acted swiftly.

"We feel that this is a victory for the supremacy of the law in South Africa," said AfriForum's Alana Bailey.

However, the Democratic Alliance described the formal warning as a mere slap on the wrist.

The DA's James Selfe said tougher action should have been taken.

"He should have been re-arrested the first time he broke his parole conditions," he said.

Shaik's bail conditions have also been tightened.