More than 3 100 offenders paroled during 2023

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) reported that during 2023, 3 159 offenders, who had been sentenced to more than 24 months of imprisonment, were released on parole. This includes 760 prisoners who were released during August to November 2023 as a result of the ‘Special Remission of Sentence’ announced on 11 August 2023. Of those released because of the special remission, 383 (50%) are reporting to the South African Police Service (SAPS) stations where the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers are deployed.

The SAPS stations and number of parolees consist of:

• x41 Bishop Lavis;

• x58 Delft;

• x17 Grassy Park;

• x20 Gugulethu;

• x31 Harare;

• x34 Khayelitsha;

• x31 Kraaifontein;

• x6 Lingelethu West;

• x20 Manenberg;

• x20 Mfuleni;

• x62 Mitchells Plain;

• x23 Nyanga;

• x36 Philippi/Hanover Park;

• x13 Philippi East; and

• x10 Steenberg.

The SAPS has reported that by 20 November 2023, 113 parolees re-offended, and have been rearrested. Among others they were arrested for:

• x19 assault;

• x14 theft;

• x4 murder; and 

• x3 attempted murder; 

• x3 possession of a firearm; and

• x7 possession of a dangerous weapon.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said, “these reoffences are a major concern for the Western Cape Government. We are doing everything that we can to make the Western Cape safer, but the number of repeat offenders just makes it even harder to successfully fight crime. Considering where many of the parolees have returned to and the escalation in violence that we’ve seen recently, one can only conclude that there is a correlation between their release and what is currently happening certain communities. Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen has written to the SAPS and DCS on the programmes in place to monitor the parolees, and further requested that we receive an update on parolees adhering to their parole conditions, and what punitive measures are in place should there be any transgressions.”

Minister Reagen Allen added, “parole is a privilege that is afforded by our country’s laws, but we will not have any parolee conducting themselves outside the parameters of their parole conditions, nor the law. SAPS and DCS should also inform the communities where these parolees have been released, who they are, the crimes they have committed, while encouraging them to report any transgressions. As the Western Cape Government, we commit to ensuring that these parolees pay their full debt to society, and also become positive contributors to their respective communities. It is important to us that our residents live without fear.”