Correctional Services National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale highlighted the reoffending rate challenge facing the South African parole system.
Thobakgale said over 50% of the country’s 55 000 parolees reoffend after their release.
His statements follow the two-day National Parole Review Summit in Pretoria, held on 22 and 23 September 2025 at the Kgosi Mampuru Conference Centre.
The summit coincides with National Corrections Week, with the goal of mobilising a national dialogue on the country’s parole system.
THE CRITICAL FLAW IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN PAROLE SYSTEM
In a candid reflection with SABC News, Thobakgale revealed that although over half of parolees reoffend, only 10% are rearrested.
“We have a parole system that does not have the capacity to monitor frequently the parolees,” he admitted.
The scale of the problem is immense, with a single parole officer often responsible for monitoring over 100 individuals, making effective supervision nearly impossible.
A CALL FOR MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND
Thobakgale called for the department to get more parole officers on the ground to ensure the reforming of the parole system.
He added that without adequate numbers to conduct proper monitoring and support, the cycle of reoffending will continue.
He also cited other contributing factors to parolees’ reintegration into society, such as a lack of family support and the deep-seated stigmatisation of parolees.
VICTIMS AND PAROLEES TAKE CENTRE STAGE IN THE DEBATE
Moreover, victims’ voices took centre stage at the summit, with attorney Tania Koen speaking on behalf of victims.
Koen pushed for a victim-centric approach and criticised the lack of resources that prevents many from sharing their trauma in crucial dialogues.
The summit also heard from former parolees who called for a balance between rehabilitation programmes and meaningful victim support.
CAN THE SOUTH AFRICAN PAROLE SYSTEM BALANCE REHABILITATION AND JUSTICE?
The National Parole Review Summit has laid bare the profound challenges within the South African parole system.
The path forward requires not only increased resources and clearer definitions but also a national conversation that truly listens to all voices caught in this complex web of crime, punishment, and the hope for redemption.
