Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has called for an open debate on the performance of the country's new parole system that has been in place for four and half years.
Minister Mapisa-Nqakula was addressing over 100 delegates that include Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of the country's 52 parole boards that gathered in Boksburg today for a two-day summit organised by Correctional Services.
"We must all agree that parole as a legal dispensation happens in a dynamic socio-legal paradigm. For us to best ensure the effectiveness of parole, we must have a deep appreciation of the society we function in. I was quite disturbed when an editorial in (one daily newspaper) of Friday, 11 September insinuated that the parole function effectively undermines the judiciary in that it reverses sentencing decisions made by the judiciary. Clearly there is a lot of educating that the criminal justice clusters needs to do," Minister Mapisa-Nqakula said.
The 52nd conference of the ANC resolved that we must among other key priorities "encourage community participation in parole boards and corrections, rehabilitation and reintegration initiatives", said Minister Mapisa-Nqakula. She also called for creative solutions to the challenges faced particularly in the context of financial challenges facing the country and the department. She said "I want us to confront the (backlogs) boldly with the understanding that we must resolve it."
She said in considering recommendations of the National Council on Correctional Services (NCCS) regarding placement of lifers on parole she identified a number of cases that should not have been submitted to the NCCS in the first place. She called for a review of the whole system that starts with the Case Management Committees that must ensure that sufficient information is gathered to help ensure that all make informed decisions.
Challenges of limited victim participation and in a number of instances non-participation of other criminal justice partners must be addressed to better oil the wheels of the country's parole system. She said: "I do not want to hear that you are not able to track down victims of crime that must be consulted in the making of decisions."
Since their establishment in July 2005 the country's 52 parole boards considered over 200 000 applications for placement on parole and granted parole to over 100 000 offenders. Commenting on the overview report, Chief Deputy Commissioner for Corrections Mr Teboho Motseki said: "It is a wonderful achievement indeed over the four and a half year period of their existence which must be celebrated along side reflections on challenges experienced in the administration of the country's parole system".
Minister Mapisa-Nqakula is expected to address the media at the end of the two day summit on Thursday, 17 September 2009.
Enquiries:
Sonwabo Mbananga
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Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
16 September 2009
