National summit set to tackle SA parole system

By Johnathan Paoli

All eyes will be on Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility this week as South Africa hosts a National Parole Review Summit from 22–23 September.

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) says the event is not just another policy gathering, but a decisive step toward overhauling a parole system often accused of being inconsistent, opaque, and out of touch with community needs.

Spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed that the summit is expected to be a landmark moment in the country’s criminal justice calendar, bringing together policymakers, legal experts, community leaders, victims of crime, and even former offenders under one roof.

The mix of voices, many with deeply personal experiences, is designed to ensure that parole reform is shaped not just by theory but by lived reality.

“This is about trust; for too long, parole decisions have been met with suspicion, whether from communities who feel unsafe or from offenders