National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Tom Moyane, has extended the tenure of the current correctional supervision and parole boards by a further two months.
Addressing a budget committee meeting of executive management today, 26 July 2010, Commissioner Moyane also expressed concern at the delays in finalising the recruitment and directed that all processes must be finalised in time for new members of the 52 parole boards to assume duties on 1 October 2010 simultaneously.
The five year contracts of parole boards' chairpersons ended in June 2010 and were extended by one month. Following a briefing by each region on progress made towards finalising the recruitment of parole board chairpersons, Commissioner Moyane announced the extension as the last one.
Positions advertised include 52 chairpersons, six deputy chairpersons and 59 positions of community representative. In terms of section 74 of Correctional Services Act (Act 111 of 1998), chairpersons of parole boards are appointed from among eminent persons within various communities where they operate.
In addition the act, calls for appointment of community representatives who together take responsibility for determining suitability of offenders for placement on parole. The legislation is intended to ensure that corrections are indeed a societal responsibility.
Parole boards consider on average 47 000 parole applications with about 22 000 being granted parole each year. Parole boards are autonomous structures that consider and approve placement of parole for all parole applications except those of "lifers", where the prerogative is with the Minister of Correctional Services in terms of the law.
In instances of life serving offenders, parole boards can only recommend to the National Council of Correctional Services (NCCS) led by a judge, which also recommends to the minister.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
Commissioner Moyane extends parole boards life by two months
