The Correctional Services Portfolio Committee was informed today that over 25% of prisoners who requested medical release in the 2023/24 fiscal year passed away before their applications could be finalized.
The committee received a briefing from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) regarding the organization and operations, difficulties and accomplishments of the department, as well as its strategies to tackle existing obstacles and advancements in laws to revamp the parole system.
In regards to the deaths of prisoners waiting for medical parole decisions, the committee was informed that 22 criminals passed away before their requests for medical parole could be completed during the 2023/24 fiscal year. In the same fiscal year, 85 wrongdoers requested medical release, with four being granted regular parole, 43 being advised for medical release, 13 being denied, and 22 passing away before the completion of their application process.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng, stated: “We have expressed our worries.” We observed that there are open positions on certain boards that may be a contributing factor. The department will provide us with the additional information we needed.
The group learned that there are presently 52 correctional supervision and parole boards (CSPB) scattered throughout the nation that primarily focus on evaluating offenders for potential parole and correctional supervision placement. The Correctional Services Act (CSA) allows for the possibility of medical parole to be granted to any convicted criminal by either the National Commissioner, the CSPB, or the Minister. The Minister needs to form a Medical Parole Advisory Panel (MPAP) to offer an impartial medical assessment to either the National Commissioner, CSPB, or the Minister.
The MPAB has to provide feedback to either the National Commissioner, the CSPB, or the Minister regarding the suitability of approving medical release. The committee was informed that the CSA offers a roster of health issues to be pondered by the MPAB during the evaluation of a convict’s medical release request.
Mr Damien Klopper, a member of the committee, expressed reservations regarding prisoners who are released on medical parole because of a terminal illness, yet years later are seen to be living productive lives in the community.
The Department of Child Services announced that it would furnish data regarding individuals falling within this demographic to the committee through written communications. In the meantime, the department guaranteed the committee that the panel assessing these issues consists of professionals in the healthcare field and that although rare instances like these do occur, they are infrequent.
Another Member of the Committee, Mr Janho Engelbrecht, thought that the whole parole system, which he feels is not achieving its objectives, is in need of a long-overdue evaluation. He thinks having non-experts on the board could result in major mistakes when deciding to release offenders who are not prepared for parole. Committee Member Ms Dereleen James took a different stance, arguing that it is the community members who genuinely care about the well-being of the community. Ms James insisted that it is necessary to provide training and outfit them appropriately.
The department will furnish us with the data regarding such issues, however, they have guaranteed us in the interim that the number is typically minimal. Ms Ramolobeng stated that they would interact as soon as they obtained the requested information.
Publishing Editor: Msizi Mavundla
