Greetings Honourable Minister Groenewald,

I would like to bring to your attention an undesirable development which has a great potential of costing the department funds unnecessarily so.

On the 24th July 2024 the High Court of Pretoria granted an order in favor of one of the inmates, namely Meshack Hlazo prison number 215 623 936 whom is currently incarcerated at Odi Correctional Centre in Mabopane (North of Pretoria).

The Honorable Court ordered that the matter must be expedited because it concerns the fundamental rights of the inmate.

The Court declared that the inmate has since become eligible for parole since August 2022. Further, the inmate must be recommended to the Parole Board on or before 27th July 2024 for the inmate's highly meritorious services (See section 80 (1) of the Correctional Services Act).

On the 06th August 2024, the parole board seated the said inmate, however the board indicated and or maintained that they are not going to recognize the order of the court, particularly paragraph 3, in that the Court point the inmate's eligibility to August 2022. Notwithstanding the fact that initially the Department of Correctional Services and Parole Board has previously maintained that the inmate will only be eligible for parole on 27th October 2024.

Consequently, the matter is now being reverted back to court for a contempt of court.

I must say that the arrogant attitude of the Parole Board is going to cost the Department of Correctional Services.

In light of the above, kindly intervene and resolve the matter amicably.

Regards,

Ms. Lerato Manaka
Chief Executive Officer
Modiehi Mongale Foundation NPO