Johannesburg - In the past 15 months, 101 prisoners serving life sentences have been granted parole. During the same time, more than three times as many have been refused parole.
Since taking office in May last year, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha has considered parole applications for 447 offenders who were serving life sentences, said ministry spokesman advocate Mthunzi Mhaga.
Masutha granted 101 applications and refused 346.
Another 21 are awaiting a decision. About 10 percent of prisoners were serving life sentences, said Mhaga.
The ministry refused to name the prisoners, including those released on parole.
“As per Correctional Services protocols, we may not divulge personal details of offenders,” said Mhaga.
By the time of publication, Correctional Services had been unable to provide a copy of those protocols.
“Of the 71 623 daily average community corrections caseload, 51 634 are parolees and 18 545 are probationers whose compliance levels with the relevant conditions are at 98 percent and 95.92 percent respectively,” said Mhaga.
The Star