Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
15 April 2025 | 18:15 CAT

DA demands parole reform, as 36% of parolees re-offend in some Cape Flats areas, fuelling gang and drug violence. (Image – DA)

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for sweeping parole reforms following shocking findings that 36% of parolees released to Delft on the Cape Flats in the past year have re-offended. DA MP for the Western Cape, Nicholas Gotsell, says the re-offending rate is deeply alarming and underlines systemic failures within South Africa’s correctional system.

“This stems from concerns raised by communities,” Gotsell explains in an interview with Radio Islam International, “that parolees are being released into areas already devastated by gang and gun violence, contributing to the cycle of crime.”

Gotsell tabled a series of parliamentary questions to Correctional Services Minister Peter Groeneveld, seeking clarity on the state of parole and rehabilitation in high-crime areas including Delft, Grassy Park, Mfuleni, and Elsie’s River.

“I didn’t expect not to be shocked, but the figures still hit hard,” he said. “Parole should be about reintegration, not a return to crime. But when there are no programs or opportunities, the result is predictable.”

The MP noted that oversight visits to correctional facilities and recent committee meetings reveal that these institutions are failing to provide effective rehabilitation. “Correctional facilities are not just overcrowded — they’re hubs for gang operations. In the Western Cape alone, 18,000 mandrax tablets were confiscated inside prisons last year.”

Gotsell added that job scarcity and the absence of support structures upon release push many parolees back into crime. “Even in a good economy, it’s hard to find a job. Add a criminal record and your prospects shrink to zero — or worse.”

To address the crisis, Gotsell says the DA is demanding a joint briefing from the Ministers of Police, Justice, and Correctional Services. “These issues are interconnected. We need a consolidated strategy to deal with gang influence both inside and outside prison walls.”

He also emphasised the role of socioeconomic upliftment. “Investment — whether government or private — in infrastructure, housing, and employment on the Cape Flats would shift the trajectory of these communities.”

As the parole crisis deepens, residents wait to see whether decisive reform will follow the data.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Nicholas Gotsell here.