Chapter 9 - Parole - South African Government Information
Chapter 9 - Parole - South African Government Information
Chapter 9 - Parole - South African Government Information
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
The said clogging of the rolls has, amongst other things, led to the Johannesburg<br />
High Court creating an additional Motion Court, which sits on a daily basis to deal<br />
with matters of parole and other matters which emanate from the Department of<br />
Correctional Services. During the period July 2004 to January 2005, the Motion<br />
Court applications increased to forty seven (47) matters. In this regard, refer to<br />
annexure “A” to this <strong>Chapter</strong>, wherein the State Attorney for Johannesburg has<br />
explained the problems they are encountering with regard to the various<br />
applications emanating from the Department of Correctional Services.<br />
The Commission has noted from the information received from the State Attorney<br />
that there has been a downward trend lately with these applications in the<br />
Johannesburg High Court. On making inquiries, the Commission was informed<br />
that during or about 15 th October 2005, a meeting to try and resolve the problem<br />
of the sudden influx of applications for parole in the Johannesburg High Court<br />
was held between Judge K. Satchwell and the senior officials of the department<br />
stationed at Johannesburg, Leeuwkop, Boksburg and Krugersdorp Management<br />
Areas. This meeting may have contributed to the downward trend in the <strong>Parole</strong><br />
or Review Applications<br />
Although there is a downward trend in <strong>Parole</strong> Applications at the Johannesburg<br />
High Court, the new applications are now to review the decisions or lack thereof<br />
of the <strong>Parole</strong> Boards. Furthermore, this problem of applications has not only<br />
been confined to the Johannesburg High Court. The Pretoria and Durban High<br />
Courts have also observed an upsurge in applicants, who are, inter alia, seeking<br />
to have the decisions of the parole boards reviewed and set aside because of the<br />
confusion in the Department with regard to parole.<br />
At the Pretoria High Court, the situation became so chaotic that the Registrar<br />
issued a directive or letter 40 to the Department setting out interim procedures<br />
40<br />
A copy of the letter is annexed to this <strong>Chapter</strong>, marked “A”<br />
506
Change language