Minister Groenewald Slams South Africa's Parole System Over High-Risk Offender Releases
- Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald raised alarm over parole boards recommending the release of high-risk offenders
- The Department of Correctional Services reported that 5,760 parolees reoffended over the past two years, a recidivism rate of 10.98%
- Dozens of vacancies on parole boards across South Africa are hampering the system's ability to assess cases properly
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SOUTH AFRICA — Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has publicly questioned why some parole boards continue to recommend the release of offenders classified as high-risk, warning that the current system puts communities in danger.
Groenewald raised the alarm during a Department of Correctional Services (DCS) briefing to Parliament on Tuesday, 29 September 2026.
Groenewald speaks on parole systems
Officials from the Correctional Services department led by Groenewald presented plans for a comprehensive overhaul of the parole framework.
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"I even had cases where the risk level is high, but then some parole boards still recommend parole. For me, it's unacceptable," Groenewald said.
The minister questioned how boards could justify releasing offenders when formal risk assessments point to a high probability of reoffending. He has since raised his concerns directly with the National Council for Correctional Services (NCCS).
Recidivism figures raise alarm
The DCS revealed that 5,760 parolees reoffended within the past two years, placing the recidivism rate at 10.98%. The department cited limited resources, growing caseloads and difficult working conditions as contributing factors to its operational strain.
Groenewald also pointed to a structural gap in the system: not every person convicted of murder receives a life sentence, which means some high-risk individuals can become eligible for parole after serving the minimum required portion of a fixed-term sentence.
The broader review of South Africa's parole system, which has been in operation for more than two decades, gained momentum following a national parole review summit held in 2025. That summit examined public safety, offender rehabilitation and victims' rights.
Parole board vacancies compound the problem
Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services has stressed that the overhaul must urgently address staffing shortfalls on the country's parole boards. As of September 2026, 52 parole boards across South Africa had a combined 73 unfilled positions, including 17 chairperson, 15 vice-chairperson and 41 community-member vacancies.
Among the reforms being introduced is the reintroduction of electronic monitoring for newly released parolees. The committee also called for clear response procedures and adequate staffing to ensure higher-risk parolees are properly supervised after release.
Groenewald plans to deport foreign nationals awaiting trial
Briefly News also reported that Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald announced plans to introduce legislative amendments that would allow South Africa to transfer foreign nationals awaiting trial back to their countries of origin, with the changes potentially finalised within 12 months.He revealed that approximately 28,000 foreign nationals are currently held in the country's correctional facilities, costing taxpayers R482 per prisoner per day.
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Source: Briefly News
