Latest news with #CorrectionalServices
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
‘Blade runner' back in the race: Oscar Pistorius competes in Durban triathlon a year after parole for killing girlfriend
JOHANNESBURG, June 5 — South African former Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius was spotted competing in a triathlon last weekend in the coastal city of Durban, 12 years after murdering his girlfriend and a year after his release on parole. Afrikaans-language news website Netwerk24 on Wednesday reported Pistorius' participation in the Ironman 70.3 competition. Netwerk24 cited an unnamed source as saying that Pistorius had permission from his parole officer to compete. Conrad Dormehl, an attorney for Pistorius, confirmed to Reuters that Pistorius had participated in the Durban race. Singabakho Nxumalo, spokesperson of South Africa's Department of Correctional Services, said he did not know whether Pistorius had received permission to compete, but would find out and respond to questions sent by Reuters. He said his parole officer would have needed to approve him travelling from where he lives to another district. Pistorius – dubbed 'Blade Runner' for his carbon-fibre prosthetic legs – shot dead 29-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door on Valentine's Day in 2013, in a crime that drew worldwide attention and shocked a nation inured to violence against women. He repeatedly said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder and launched multiple appeals against his conviction on that basis. Pistorius, now 38, was freed from jail in January 2024 after completing more than half his sentence and is on parole until his sentence expires in 2029. Netwerk24 published a photograph of Pistorius riding a bicycle with the race number 105. Pistorius' distinctive tattoo and prosthetic legs were visible in the photograph. Reuters contacted the photographer who gave the news agency permission to publish images similar to the one Netwerk24 used. Results published online by sports-timing company SportSplits show an athlete called Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius competed in the triathlon under race number 105, coming 555th among all participants and third in the 'physically challenged' category. The race involved a 2-km swim, a 90-km bike ride and a 21-km run - a total distance of 70.3 miles. Pistorius was once the darling of the sports world, and a pioneering voice for disabled athletes, for whom he campaigned to be allowed to compete with able-bodied participants at major sports events. He won six gold medals over three Paralympic Games in Athens, Beijing and London, and competed in able-bodied races at the London 2012 Olympics. — Reuters
IOL News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
DA demands answers from Police Minister as Correctional Services remains silent on missing inmates
The DA demands answers regarding the possible disappearance of two dangerous inmates at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre. The DA has written to the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, to confirm whether his Department has been informed of the possible disappearance of Me-Kayle Timmie and Mikyle Mentoor - two convicted offenders who, according to a High Court order, should be detained at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre until at least October 2025. It has now been almost a week since a DA oversight visit to Pollsmoor revealed that officials could not account for either individual. Despite this, no confirmation has been issued by the Minister of Correctional Services, nor has any response been received to the DA's formal letter sent to him on 14 May. The Minister's silence is troubling, particularly because Xolani Du Preez, a third offender who was subject to the same court order, was only re-admitted to Pollsmoor on 22 April after allegedly committing a robbery in Table View. That incident – and Du Preez's return to Pollsmoor - should have triggered immediate concern within the Department and prompted a review of the whereabouts of all three individuals. The fact that this was ignored and not brought to the attention of the Minister points to a serious breakdown in communication between Correctional Services senior management and the Ministry. It is deeply concerning that the Department has failed to acknowledge or act upon such a critical lapse in inmate tracking and compliance with court orders. If Timmie and Mentoor have indeed been released, Minister Groenewald should have confirmed this by now and explained what steps are being taken to ensure the safety of victims and the South African public. The DA will continue to push for full transparency and accountability. A correctional system that cannot reliably confirm the presence or absence of sentenced prisoners is a system in crisis. Nicholas Gotsell MP - DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice
IOL News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
South Africa's call to the UN over dangers of cybercrime and organised crime
During the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice session, Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald stressed the significance of global cooperation in the fight against cybercrime. Image: Facebook/ Department of Correctional Services Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald said Monday that international collaboration is essential for combating modern threats such as cybercrime, which erode the rule of law and negatively affect the quality of life for all citizens, particularly vulnerable populations. He also announced that South Africa is in the process of creating a National Transnational Organised Crime Strategy to address these issues. This formed part of South Africa's national statement at the 34th session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) in Vienna, Austria. Groenewald said the CCPCJ is convening at a significant moment, as the international community marks the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, also known as the Nelson Mandela Rules and the 15th anniversary of the Bangkok Rules. He said these reflect the global consensus that the dignity and human rights of all persons, including those deprived of liberty, must be respected. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'As we confront new, evolving, and increasingly complex forms of crime, ranging from cybercrime to crimes that affect the environment, it is imperative that our justice systems remain firmly anchored in the rule of law and guided by the fundamental principles of human rights,' Groenewald said. 'In this context, South Africa welcomes the timely deliberations of this session, recognising that these emerging forms of crime pose a growing threat to global peace, security, and sustainable development. We welcome the theme's alignment with Actions 7 and 24 of the Pact for the Future and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.' The Minister said that although South Africa supports the ongoing reform of the United Nations to enhance system-wide coherence and realignment of priorities and financial resources, it is concerned about the ongoing liquidity crisis facing the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and its adverse impact on programme delivery and technical assistance, particularly to developing countries. However, the country affirms its support for the role the UNODC plays in addressing transnational organised crime. 'South Africa calls for strengthened international cooperation to effectively address evolving threats, which undermine the rule of law and impact the quality of life of our citizens, particularly the most vulnerable, such as women, children and youth,' Groenewald said. 'In this regard, I wish to inform that South Africa is developing a National Transnational Organised Crime Strategy to prevent and combat transnational organised crime.' 'To enhance the fight against crime and ensure uniformity, Member States are encouraged to harmonise their legal frameworks by ratifying and implementing international legal treaties, such as the recently adopted UN Convention against Cybercrime, which serves as a pivotal international framework to combat cybercrime, strengthen international cooperation and facilitate technical assistance and capacity-building support, particularly for developing countries,' Groenewald continued. Groenewald urged Member States to sign and ratify the instrument for early entry into force and also adopt innovative crime prevention approaches to build a safer and more resilient world. Meanwhile, on behalf of the African Group, ambassador, permanent representative of Burkina Faso and chair of the Africa Group to the Permanent Missions to the United Nations in Vienna, Maimounata Ouattara, urged all United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) State Parties to impose a system-wide zero tolerance policy against corrupt practices and highlights the necessity to take urgent measures to prevent, prosecute and deter all forms of corruption, to strengthen international cooperation to effectively prevent and counter money laundering and illicit financial flows and enhance measures for the identification, tracing, freezing, seizure, return of assets and recovery of all proceeds of crime or corruption, to deny them safe havens through their eventual confiscation.
eNCA
17-05-2025
- eNCA
Convicted rapist out on parole accused of another rape
WYNBERG, WC - Correctional Services will review its parolee monitoring mechanisms. It comes after a recently paroled man was arrested for raping a 9-year-old Hanover Park girl. He appeared at the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on charges of human trafficking, kidnapping and rape. Hanover Park residents gathered outside court, calling for bail to be denied. On Tuesday, the 9-year-old child was on her way to an Islamic school, when a man approached her. The state says the suspect locked her inside his house and drugged her. He was arrested after the community traced the child to his house. In court, the convicted rapist requested legal aid and claims police assaulted him. The case was postponed to allow the suspect to appoint legal representation. By: Nobesuthu Hejana
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Limitations on parole revocation for assassin Janusz Walus
Minister Pieter Groenewald says assassin Janusz Walus benefited from a Constitutional Court ruling known as the Van Vuuren judgment, which changed how prisoners sentenced for life before 1994 could be considered for parole. Image: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald said his hands are tied in revoking the parole of Janusz Walus, who killed former SACP general secretary and Umkhonto weSizwe chief of staff Chris Hani. This emerged when Groenewald made a presentation on the process leading to the revocation of parole for parolees to the Correctional Services on Tuesday. EFF MP Carl Niehaus said the release of Walus meant that he was not placed under permanent control of the Correctional Services system. Niehaus noted that he was allowed to be deported to his home country in Poland within two years after his release. 'If he breaks the parole condition as any other lifer would have done and is returned to prison, that would not happen.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Niehaus also said Walus had, in an interview after his release, stated that if he got a chance to do what he did, he would do it again, in what he described as his not being rehabilitated. 'Would the minister consider, under the circumstances, to approach the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and also the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and request to make a formal request to the government of Poland for extradition of Walus back to South Africa on the basis he had broken South African law, and if he was still in South Africa after that interview would he be taken back to prison?' asked Niehaus. Patriotic Alliance MP Marlon Daniels said his party was in full support of checking the prospects of extraditing Walus to South Africa because he had shown no remorse. 'He never deserved to be let out on parole,' Daniels said. In response, Groenewald said Walus benefited from a Constitutional Court ruling known as the Van Vuuren judgment, which changed how prisoners sentenced for life before 1994 could be considered for parole. The judgment had ruled that prisoners imprisoned for a life sentence could serve a minimum of 10 or 15 years in exceptional cases before being considered for parole, as opposed to the initial 20 years. 'As a minister, I can only comply with court findings and the law. In the Walus case, that was before my time. It was a Constitutional Court decision. I am not to argue with the Constitutional Court decision.' He said the court had determined that Walus, after three years of serving the minimum period, it meant he was eligible for parole, and it was the responsibility of the department to comply. 'It is out of our hands, and that is why he was deported to Poland,' Groenewald said. Cape Times
