Cape Flats sees alarming 10.6% recidivism rate among parolees

IN JUST A year, the Cape Flats has become home to 2 395 parolees and shockingly, 254 have reoffended - a 10.6% recidivism rate in one year.

- GENEVIEVE SERRA

This is according to Nicholas Gotsell, DA MP and member on the Select Committee on Security and Justice, who has written to the National Commissioner of Correctional Services to request an urgent reform of the current parole system.

In a parliamentary reply from the Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, he highlighted the dangerous link between parole policy failures and the ongoing gang and drug wars plaguing the Cape Flats.

Gotsell said he believed it was important to relook at parole systems and how decisions were made.

Last week, the Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Service (JICS) met with the Select Committee on Security and Justice, and pointed out major deficiencies and dysfunctions in the parole system, of which Gotsell said they called for a review.