The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed that it is time to rethink parole in South Africa.
Corrections minister wants a full revamp of South Africa’s parole system
On Monday, Minister Pieter Groenewald said the current system is failing communities because many offenders released on parole are reoffending once back in society.
Speaking outside Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre, Groenewald explained:
“We must ensure that this risk of reoffending is very important to ensure we create safer communities in South Africa.”
The comments come as DCS hosts the National Parole Review Summit in Tshwane from 22–23 September 2025 (starting at 09:00 SAST each day).
The minister said the summit has been planned since 2015 but is only now taking place under his leadership.
He described it as a chance to “finalise” years of delays and to ensure parole reform strengthens justice while protecting South Africans.
What to expect from the National Parole Review Summit
The National Parole Review Summit brings together a wide range of voices — including victims of crime, academics, policy experts, community leaders and even former offenders.
This mix is deliberate: the DCS wants the parole system to be shaped by lived experiences, not just legal theory.
DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said the goal is to rebuild public trust:
“For too long, parole decisions have been met with suspicion, whether from communities who feel unsafe or from offenders who feel unheard. We want a system that protects society, honours victims, and gives genuine rehabilitation a chance.”
Parole in South Africa has long been controversial. Some violent criminals have been released early, only to commit new crimes. At the same time, overcrowded prisons and claims of unfair treatment make the process feel inconsistent and opaque.
The summit is meant to act as a “reset button”. Civil society groups are expected to push for greater transparency in how parole decisions are made. Experts will present international best practices and data-driven rehabilitation models, while victims will explain the personal impact of early releases.
The DCS stressed this is not a “talk shop”. The outcomes from the two-day event will feed into national policies and possible new laws. The aim is to close loopholes and ensure a parole system that works consistently across all cases.
The location of the summit — Kgosi Mampuru II prison — is also symbolic.
Known as one of South Africa’s toughest facilities, it reminds all involved that parole reform is not an abstract idea but a daily reality affecting real people both inside prisons and in communities.