Rapist Caught Red-Handed in KwaNobuhle Tavern

By Nomalungelo Booi

“Parole Crackdown: “Check-up operation in KwaNobuhle a success, says national correctional services commissioner

In a surprise operation led by National Correctional Services Commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale, five individuals on parole were found to be violating their conditions in KwaNobuhle on Saturday.

One of the most alarming cases involved a rapist who was arrested for being drunk at a tavern while he was supposed to be at home.

The operation, conducted in partnership with the police, aimed to ensure that parolees were complying with their conditions. Thobakgale emphasized that the department was in the process of acquiring an electronic monitoring system to better track parolees.

During the operation, the rapist’s brother revealed that he was at the tavern, and when officers took him home, he was unable to stand, leading to his arrest. Thobakgale stressed that the individual posed a risk to the community, particularly girls and women.

Other parolees, including a woman who had been rehabilitated while in jail, were also monitored. She credited anger management classes and skills training, such as sewing and making beads, for helping her turn her life around. A man who had been jailed for rape and was now watching YouTube videos at home claimed to have started a new life.

Thobakgale highlighted the importance of family support in the reintegration process, noting that a lack of support can contribute to parolees violating their conditions. He urged communities to report any violations directly to the department or the police, emphasizing that failure to comply would result in parolees being taken back into custody.

The operation exposed several challenges, including the need for better support systems for parolees. Thobakgale emphasized that successful reintegration requires a combination of factors, including the behavior of the parolee, a support system at home, and community acceptance.