97 parolees rearrested for rape and murder in first quarter of year

More than 500 parolees have reoffended in the first quarter, the Minister of Justice revealed in an answer to a parliamentary question.

97 parolees rearrested for rape and murder in first quarter of year

Ronald Lamola revealed that more than 500 parolees committed serious offences in the first quarter of the financial year in an answer to a parliamentary question. The Justice Minister is currently considering making changes to South Africa’s parole policy.

PAROLEES MURDER AND RAPE AFTER RELEASE

Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament, Janho Engelbrecht, asked Lamola what the status of the parole policy review is. He also asked how many serious crimes have been committed by parolees since 1 March 2020.

Lamola said his Department drew up a draft Position Paper on the revised parole system for the country.

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The paper was meant to be the basis for discussion and consultation with the relevant roleplayers and stakeholders and other interested parties before the Ministry finalised “an appropriate new parole system.”

“The Position Paper was consulted with National Council for Correctional Services (NCCS), Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS), Medical Parole Advisory Board (MPAB), and Parole Boards for inputs.

“Thereafter, the Minister referred the matter to the National Council for Correctional Services in terms of section 84(2) of the Correctional Services Act, 111 of 1998,” read the reply.

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The recommendations made by the NCCS were submitted to Lamola for consideration “with a view to the way forward.”

Since March 2020, 3146 parolees have reoffended. The offences range from attempted rape, murder, rape, robbery and assault to trespassing.

Ronald Lamola
Lamola said more than 500 parolees reoffended in Q1. Photo: Twitter/@RonaldLamola

Lamola revealed that in the first quarter of the current financial year, 550 parolees committed crimes. Theft was the most common offence with 123 counts while 50 people were murdered by parolees and 47 were raped.

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The statistics were laid out in the following table:

Nature of offence01 March 2020 to 31 March 20212021/2022Q1 of 2022/2023
Attempted rape520
Murder11117650
Rape18016747
Robbery36024771
Assault GBH14415931
Domestic violence901030
Robbery Aggravating103738
Attempted Murder33296
Sexual Assault2047
Theft132260123
Fraud46253
Assault141826
Possession of firearm161111
Arson7110
Kidnapping674
House breaking with intent to rob9160
Damage of property91919
House breaking and theft91866
Pointing of firearm12110
Possession of drugs5413
Possession of stolen property1917
Conspiracy to commit murder010
Damage/ interfering with essential infrastructure111
Hijacking1071
Indecent assault210
Culpable homicide300
Violation of the protection order2015
Theft from car101
Stock theft120
Intimidation010
Trespassing005
TOTAL1 2391 346555

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