Correctional Services Minister Dr. Pieter Groenewald Addresses Parole Board Vacancies and Prison Security

PRETORIA, Gauteng — Correctional Services Minister Dr. Pieter Groenewald has addressed the critical issue of parole board vacancies across the country, revealing that 73 of 208 positions remain unfilled. The staffing shortages, which span 52 national parole boards, have resulted in delayed release decisions for eligible inmates and compromised the overall quality of offender evaluations.

Regional Disparities and Recruitment Hurdles

While the national vacancy rate is a significant concern, Dr. Groenewald highlighted stark regional disparities. The Western Cape has managed to keep vacancies relatively low, with all chairperson and vice-chairperson positions filled and only eight community members short. In contrast, the Eastern Cape faces severe staffing challenges.

Each parole board consists of six members: a chairperson, a deputy chairperson, two community members, and two departmental officials. A quorum of three members is required to make a decision. To mitigate the shortages, the department has extended certain contracts and temporarily borrowed members from neighboring areas.

The root of the recruitment struggle lies in both stringent new criteria and the nature of the role. Dr. Groenewald recently mandated that selection panels must include professionals with criminal justice backgrounds, such as psychiatrists and criminologists. However, because parole board membership is not a full-time salaried position and relies on hourly remuneration, many qualified academics and professionals find the time commitment prohibitive. Furthermore, legislative requirements make the selection process highly time-consuming. Despite these hurdles, the minister projects that positions advertised in July and August will be filled within the next six months. The department has also shifted from three-year to five-year contracts for members to ensure greater stability.

Disputing Recidivism Claims and Legislative Reform

Addressing broader concerns about the parole system’s effectiveness, Dr. Groenewald firmly pushed back against claims by some institutions that South Africa’s reoffending rate sits between 80% and 90%. Citing the department’s internal data from the last three years, he stated that the actual recidivism rate among parolees is between 12% and 13%, challenging other academics and institutions to share their research if they have differing data.

Nevertheless, the minister acknowledged that dangerous offenders occasionally reoffend while on parole, calling it “totally unacceptable.” To combat this, a comprehensive review of the parole system is underway. Following a two-day parole summit held in September 2025, a task team has developed a concept amendment bill for the Correctional Services Act. Dr. Groenewald expects the bill to be passed by Parliament next year.

Under his current strict approach, the minister will not approve parole for lifers if their risk of reoffending is assessed as moderate or high. While parole boards handle sentenced inmates, the minister retains the final decision on lifers and has previously requested reviews by the parole review board—chaired by a judge—when boards approve parole for moderate- or high-risk offenders.

Tackling Prison Escapes and Contraband Smuggling

Beyond parole reforms, Dr. Groenewald addressed pressing security breaches within the correctional system. Regarding the recent escape of serial escapee Edward Madiba from a correctional centre, the minister confirmed that the investigation into whether department officials assisted the escape is nearly complete. He noted that while labor laws require prima facie evidence for disciplinary action, it is clear that assistance was provided by officials. Disciplinary hearings are pending, and those found guilty of collusion will be dismissed.

The minister also tackled the pervasive issue of contraband, specifically cell phones, which facilitate organized crime behind bars. Over the last three financial years, the department has confiscated more than 102,000 cell phones. This success is partly due to a massive operational shift, with the department increasing its searches by over 200% compared to previous years.

Dr. Groenewald identified three primary ways contraband enters the facilities: inmates bringing them back from court appearances, visitors smuggling them in, and, most problematically, corrupt officials. Highlighting the department’s proactive measures, he cited a recent intelligence-driven operation in Goodwood, Western Cape, where an official was arrested at a roadblock with 37 cell phones and drugs.

To thoroughly combat this, the minister announced the implementation of strict “cell-free zones” within prison units. Under the new policy, neither inmates nor officials will be allowed to carry cell phones into these areas; officials will revert to using two-way radios.

Emphasizing that consequence management is a priority, Dr. Groenewald noted that 137 officials were dismissed in the previous financial year for their involvement in contraband smuggling, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to corruption within the correctional service.