By Karabo Marifi
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) recently appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services to address critical issues surrounding correctional supervision and parole boards across South Africa. The engagement revealed important insights into the functioning of the country’s 52 Correctional Supervision and Parole Boards (CSPB), which are tasked with considering parole and correctional supervision applications for eligible offenders.
These boards play a crucial role in the South African justice system, determining whether individuals incarcerated in correctional facilities can be safely reintegrated into society. However, challenges such as vacancies on the boards and concerns about medical parole were central to the discussions, prompting the committee to seek further details from the department.
Limited Resources and Concerns Over Vacancies
One of the key issues raised during the committee meeting was the limited number of CSPBs currently operational in South Africa. With only 52 boards nationwide, there are concerns about the capacity to handle the growing number of parole applications efficiently. The department acknowledged that there are vacancies on some boards, which may contribute to delays in decision-making processes and increase the backlog of parole applications.
Kgomotso Ramolobeng, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, expressed concern over these vacancies and emphasised the importance of having fully functional boards to address the needs of the correctional system. “We have raised concerns. We noted that vacancies exist in some of these boards, which could be a contributing factor. The department will furnish us with further information we require,” she said.
These vacancies are seen as a significant obstacle in the timely review of cases, which has a direct impact on the parole process. Without a full complement of board members, critical decisions regarding the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders may be delayed, undermining the purpose of parole and correctional supervision in the broader criminal justice framework.
The Issue of Medical Parole
Another pressing issue discussed during the engagement was the process and criteria for medical parole. According to the department’s report, during the 2022/2023 financial year, 85 inmates applied for medical parole, and the outcomes of these applications were mixed. Out of the 85 applicants:
• 22 inmates died while awaiting the finalisation of their medical parole applications.
• 43 applications were successful and those inmates were granted medical parole.
• Four inmates were released on normal parole.
• 13 applications were not recommended for medical parole.Medical parole is typically granted to offenders who are terminally ill or severely incapacitated, and are no longer deemed a threat to society. However, the committee raised concerns over cases where inmates granted medical parole went on to live healthy lives for years after their release, sparking questions about the criteria and oversight of the medical parole system.
The department acknowledged that there are indeed exceptional cases where individuals granted medical parole have lived longer than anticipated, but assured the committee that such instances are rare. “The department will provide us with the statistics of such matters, but they have assured us in the meantime that that figure is generally low. We will engage once we receive the information requested,” said Ramolobeng.
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