ANC Caucus statement on Parole Review Boards
5 June 2006
The ANC Parliamentary Caucus is concerned at the role and powers of the
Parole Review Boards of the Department of Correctional Services. This is
in view of the perpetual clashes between the Boards and provincial
commissioners.
The recent oversight visits conducted by the Portfolio Committee on
Correctional Services have revealed a disturbing pattern of constant
disregard of Boards` decisions to parole qualifying offenders by the
provincial commissioners. A number of qualifying offenders continue to
languish in prisons because of the constant discord.
The Portfolio Committee has called all chairpersons of the 52 Boards
across the country to account on the progress and challenges in their
respective portfolios.
Caucus welcomes Minister Ngconde Balfour`s announcement of an audit to
establish whether there are any prisoners that might have been
overlooked for parole.
Issued by the ANC Parliamentary Caucus
Contact:
Dennis Bloem
Chairperson of ANC Study Group on Correctional Services
