The Minister of Correctional Services, Dr Pieter Groenewald, has accused the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), Geordin Hill-Lewis, of practising “cheap politics” following a recent statement by Hill-Lewis raising alarm over a report claiming that nearly 28,000 parolees are untraceable.

A new report by investigative journalism group AmaBhungane claims that over 27,000 high-risk parolees are unaccounted for after absconding, including offenders convicted of violent crimes. Of these, more than 15,000 are classified as archived absconders who were released between 1991 and 2004 and have still not been traced. Gauteng has the highest number, with over 9,300 absconders.

Hill-Lewis expressed deep concern around the findings.

“The DA has long raised alarm about the collapse of effective parole supervision, and these findings confirm what we have warned for years that the Department of Correctional Services is failing to protect the public.”

Hill-Lewis confirmed that the party will write to the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services to request a full parliamentary review of the Community Corrections System.

“We will also call for a resolution from the Portfolio Committee petitioning the Minister of Correctional Services to issue a request for proposals for GPS-enabled electronic monitoring within 90 days, for a pilot programme to commence within 12 months, and for legislative amendments to ensure mandatory electronic monitoring of all parolees convicted of violent crimes.”

In a message directed to Hill-Lewis via X, Groenewald reiterated that there is an ongoing process to introduce electronic monitoring bracelets for parolees, with measurable progress already under way.

“I stated in public that I am in the process of introducing electronic bracelets for parolees. There is progress. I had a parole summit last year on the revision of the parole system. We are busy with legislative amendments. Don’t practise cheap politics,” Groenewald stated.