University of South Africa (UNISA) Correctional Management expert Professor Thabiso Matshaba has said that the Department of Correctional Services is sitting on a ticking time bomb by failing to expeditiously resolve the crisis of untraceable parolees and escaped inmates who are roaming the streets unrestricted by the law and remain unaccounted for.
Matshaba was speaking on YOU FM’s Newshour following the appearance of the Department’s Minister, Dr Pieter Groenewald, before the Portfolio Committee in Parliament, where he conceded that the department’s latest data does not reflect the number of parolees and inmates who absconded before 1994.
The Minister revealed that more than 8,300 parolees have absconded since 2021.
Matshaba said that the Department has spent and wasted taxpayers’ money on so-called electronic tagging devices, which were intended to keep track of parolees 19 years ago, but the plan has still not been implemented.
“This is nothing new. We have heard about the introduction of electronic tagging devices before.
The idea was first presented before the Portfolio Committee on 3 March 2008, and the Committee did not oppose the Department’s request to implement an electronic monitoring system.
They partnered with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, but there was mismanagement of stock, the equipment procured was ineffective, and devices valued at R2.7 million eventually went missing.
They were written off, and there are also media reports that the Department has spent a little over R2 billion,” said Matshaba.
Furthermore, Matshaba said that the public has every right to be concerned that criminals of all categories are roaming the streets undetected, threatening public safety and potentially reoffending.
“It is unfortunate that only after exposure by the media does the Department appear willing to take this matter seriously.
It has been estimated that approximately 25–55% of parolees reoffend.
The Department needs to come clean and provide accurate statistics on what is happening in the correctional centres of this country.
This issue must be treated with the seriousness it deserves because what has been reported here is merely the tip of the iceberg,” explained Matshaba.
In addition, he urged the Department to strengthen its monitoring and tracing methods to ensure that all parolees are accounted for.
“The Department has indicated that it has a staff shortage, with one community corrections official responsible for 87 offenders. Out of the 8,300 absconders, they have managed to trace 6,000, leaving 2,300 unaccounted for.
That is the question that remains unanswered.
Why has the Department remained silent on this issue all along?
That is another question,” remarked Matshaba.
Meanwhile, addressing the committee, Groenewald said that the Department is seriously considering the use of electronic tagging. However, there is still a legal impasse preventing its implementation.
“I said that if I could have my way, because we have financial constraints, anyone who wants to go on parole should pay for the electronic tag themselves,” said Groenewald.
