Parole board skills shock in battle to 'close the gaps'

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Cape Town – The Department of Correctional Services faces pressure to tighten its parole system to stop repeat offenders from terrorising communities. This comes in the wake of the murder of 8-year-old Tazne van Wyk of Elsies River, whose alleged killer - Moehydien Pangaker - was out on parole at the time she disappeared. Pangaker had previously been convicted of abduction and murder, and transgressed his parole conditions at the time of his arrest this month. Spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo this week said Correctional Services would be “closing the gaps” in the parole system. This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to Tazne’s parents on Tuesday. Ramaphosa reportedly remarked that there was “something wrong with our parole system”.

Nxumalo responded: “There are gaps The board takes decisions that are at times even in conflict with what we have said as the Correctional Services Department.

“We need to look at expertise for the parole board, so that the decisions they make are relevant. Some people apply to be part of the parole board because there is money to be made. But the way they conduct themselves raises serious questions.

“We advertise positions for parole board members Anyone can apply. The issue of qualifications is not so important. Hence we are saying we need to tighten that up. This is a serious grey area.”

Nxumalo said another gap was how parole board members - who work independently of the department - wrote their assessment reports of criminals due for parole.

“The people who write the reports and assessments should be more professional,” he said.

The assessments are used as a basis for deciding whether or not a criminal should be released from jail.

“He (Pangaker) is a repeat offender. We can now see gaps in the parole system. He finished his term, and

went back to commit the same

crime. We have to look at the whole history of the person (in the assessment),” said Nxumalo.

Another important missing link was communication with communities when a criminal is released from jail, said Nxumalo.

“It’s important that communities have a voice in the new policy position. They can say what they are comfortable with,” he said.

A number of community groups have already voiced dissatisfaction with the parole system.

Roegschanda Pascoe, a community worker from the Manenberg Safety Forum NGO, said: “Communities are totally uprepared for criminals who are sent back to live with us.”

“In Manenberg, we pray that someone has changed his ways, but a few weeks later you find the person is busy doing the same things he went to jail for,” she said.

“Communities must lead the process of changing the parole system because it is into our areas where criminals are sent back.”

Natalie Carter, of SA Women Fight Back, said they support families during trials at various courts, and that the “justice system is failing us”.

“We are absolutely disgusted about what is happening in our country, and that’s an understatement. We have hardcore criminals out on the streets.

“If you look at the history of some criminals, they are habitual. They are in and out of prison because they get away with it each time.

“We need harsher penalties for criminals. The death penalty is even too lenient for some of the things these criminals have done.”

Chris Nissen, a commissioner with the SA Human Rights Commission, said it also wanted to see the parole system improved.

“We need to have a review of the parole regulations. There must be greater consultation and thorough assessments."

Cape Argus