Minister of Correctional Services Dr Pieter Groenewald Picture: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
The newly appointed Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald has announced that his department will be reviewing the parole laws.
Groenewald said this was as the current system generated a lot of interest and mixed reaction from the public.
The minister said the debate on the reviewing of the parole system was receiving necessary attention.
“I say this because the department is working on reviewing the parole system. The time has come for DCS (Department of Correctional Services) to finalise this matter, as reforming our parole system is not just a policy issue but a moral imperative.
“People have been asking for a system of fairness and transparency. The current criteria seem not to be appreciated. Although victims of crime are allowed to participate in the parole process, how far do their voices go? This calls for a relook in the review and oversight mechanisms,” Groenewald said.
He said it was critical that the seventh administration finalised this review in the interest of all.
The minister said the legislative reforms were a necessity as the department explored new ways of conducting the business, adding that there were several judgments that have pushed the department to duly align the legal mandates and policies.
“As such the Correctional Services Act (CSA) is further being reviewed taking into consideration developments in the correctional system, international and regional obligations, the Nelson Mandela Rules and judgments impacting on the interpretation of the CSA.
“This work started in the sixth administration, and our resolve is to see it being concluded without any delay.”
His decision to review the parole system doesn’t come as a surprise, as his appointment was met with scepticism as the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) was known for its conservative and nationalist views.
On its manifesto on crime and safety in South Africa, his organisation, FF+, advocates for establishment of specialised units to address violent crime and the illegal firearms trade, protecting citizens’ right to own firearms and declaring farm attacks a priority crime with adequate resources allocated to rural safety.
Groenewald had said that criminals were becoming more brazen and that the justice system was failing.
“Criminals in South Africa don’t fear the police any more. They are not deterred by the criminal justice system, which should ensure they pay for their criminal deeds. This failure of the justice system is why we see a rise in violent crimes,” he said.
One organisation that was also championing for the overhaul of the parole system was Activists and Citizens Forum (ACF).
The organisation said the current parole system was a “mockery” to the victims’ families.
The organisation’s spokesperson, Dennis Bloem, had urged Groenewald to review its laws.
Bloem exposed the system’s flaws in the announcement of a former VBS chief financial officer (CFO) Phillip Truter’s release on parole in April.
“The latest disgusting parole release is that of former VBS CFO, who confessed to stealing millions of rand from poor people of Limpopo. Truter and his criminal gang caused serious damage and hardship to the poorest of the poor.
“His release will just worsen the pain of the VBS victims. One of the tasks of Groenewald is to urgently review the parole system,” he said.
Bloem said if the minister fails to give the review matter attention, it will soon explode in his face.
Truter was released in April of this year. According to the department’s spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo, Truter was being monitored by the department while he is on parole.
Truter received R5 million of the R2 billion allegedly looted from the mutual bank, and was convicted after he pleaded guilty on charges of fraud, corruption, racketeering, theft and money laundering in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Gauteng.
The Star
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