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Our country ’ s dysfunctional parole system is doing more harm than good to the public as its mooted review moves at snail ’ s pace . This is underscored by the latest news that a man accused of the mass murder of 18 people in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape was released on parole last year .
Siphosoxolo Myeketho , who appeared in the Lusikisiki magis trate ’ s court on Wednesday , was given a life sentence for murder in 2002 before being released on parole in July last year . He is now facing 18 counts of murder and one of possession of firearm and ammunition related to the massacre in Ngobozana village more than a week ago . Myeketho was also handed an 18- month sentence for escaping while awaiting trial .
His case , though not isolated , is further evidence of the urgent need to change the parole system to protect society from further harm posed by criminals of his ilk .
His release raises questions about the vigilance of the parole board that granted him freedom .
It has been well over four years since the government first spoke about the review of the system due to a growing number of repeat offenders who pose a threat to
UN guilty of inaction in Gaza Has the United Nations gotten so
weak and moribund that it cannot stop or prevent the slaughter of innocent civilians and children in the Middle East ? The butcher of Israel has gone rogue and must be stopped at all costs . – We st socie ty .
A plan was first announced by then justice and correctional services minister Ronald Lamola in 2020 after the killing of eightyear-old Tazne van Wyk in Cape Town by a man who was out on parole . Since then , we ’ ve he ard repeated statements of work being under way for the review of the system but no action .
In July , correctional services minister Pieter Groenewald made the latest vow to review the sys tem during his budget vote . However , as the process drags on , the arrest of Myeketho and others demonstrates how public safety continues to be compromised by paroled criminals .
The blame for the killings of 18 people in Lusikisiki should be laid at the door of the state , which h as failed to protect its citizens . As far back as 2022 , it was revealed mo re than 500 crimes then were committed by parolees , further indicating the need to tighten the screws on offenders who posed a danger to society .
We need urgent steps to address the dysfunction of the p arole system to prevent further loss of l ives .
How did JZ , Malema make cash Supporters of Jacob Zuma and
Julius Malema should tell us how their idols made millions of rand . In the case of Cyril Ramaphosa , it is known that he was a busine s sman . What about Malema and Zuma ’ s millions ? – L Rikhotso
In April 2024 , the Gauteng health department raised the alarm over a disturbing rise in food poisoning cases , particularly among children , in a report . In one incident , 41 children , aged three to five , were hospitalised after consuming candy tainted with rat poison from a local outlet .
In 2024 alone , Gauteng saw 207 cases of food poisoning among children , with 10 resulting in fatalities . These figures , as reported by the health department and the media , paint a grim reality .
However , despite these alarming statistics , there ’ s little to show t he Gauteng government prioritised the oversight that could have prevented these tragedies . The most recent case , in which five children died in Soweto after consuming food from a local spaza s hop , highlighted the lack of regulatory enforcement by government .
Frustration has boiled over in Naledi ,
Lack of electricity is making life difficult for family
My family at Chavani village in Elim , Limpopo , has been without electricity since September 27 . The family ’ s power meter is not accepting recharge tokens anymore . I reported the issue to our local councillor , who forwarded the complaint to Eskom on September 28 .
The Eskom technicians arrived and also failed to make the meter accept the recharge tokens . They advised me to go to the Eskom office in Makhado to get a 20-digit code for resetting the meter .
Corruption killed dreams Nelson Mandela once said we
need playing facilities like in the suburbs . Our hopes were high , but unfortunately , we ’ re still dreaming about better facilities after 30 years of democracy . We are victims of corruption . – Fa nya n a
with residents shutting down local outlets owned by foreign nationals believed to be selling illegally sourced goods in an unregulated market . This leaves township residents vulnerable to health risks and exploitation .
It would be a grave mistake to frame the community ’ s reaction as xenop hob ic . The core issue is t he govern ment ’ s failure to enforce laws and protect its citizens . These incidents are concentrated in disadvantaged black communities , exposing a government that has not fulfilled its promise to create a transformed SA .
Wh at ’ s needed now is a united front in communities , and demand real and immediate measures to address the dangers posed by unregulated outlets . The government must be held accountable for the lives lost due to its neglect of oversight .
The power meter at home also rejected the code .
I reported the matter to the councillor and explained the situation in full . I have been following up with him ever since , because that ’ s all he tells me whenever I enquire about any update . “ I will follow up ,” th at ’ s all he says .
Can someone help us ? We live with elders whose special care is made easy by electricity .
Cholera scare along Vaal River I hope all residents along the Vaal
River banks , especially in Christiana and Warrenton , have been made aware of the dangers of using the water after it was found to be spreading cholera . Residents of Utlwanang in Christiana have
Lesego Mahlangu , by email
Hlengani Makhubele , Elim
Friday October 11 2024 S owetan
been supplied with water tanks that draw the water directly from the Vaal River . Warrenton folks are even worse . They fetch their wa te r directly from the Vaal . I hope there wo n ’ t be any fatalities , more so with the predicted heatwave . – Nibbler , Randfontein
Hurricane Milton made a landfall in Florida , US , yesterday , leaving more than 3 million homes and businesses without p owe r and water supply disrupted . It brought with it tornadoes , floods and storm surges to the state / R E U T E R S
Letters to the editor Sowetan , PO Box 6663 , Johannesburg , 2000
E-mail letters @ sowetan . co . za Fax 011-3 40 -9637
It was with immense sadness to bear the news of the passing of Pastor Ray McCauley . Words can never fully express how much someone like him meant to the masses who benefitted from his contributions to our rainbow n ation .
This apostle of caring and giving was a promise that there is hope , even in the most seemingly hopeless conditions .
Pastor Ray ’ s long life and monumental contributions to the community reaffirm our faith in humanity , that the streams of unending assistance to the destitute have not dried up .
Nobody can forget this example of utmost devotion to all the tasks that he undertook . His entire life was a fabric of compassion , the main strands which was assisting scores of thousands of men , women and children , who turned to him and his organisation for love and care . He took it upon himself to translate this into action and touched the lives of communities across the heartland of our country .
Let this sad occasion be an example that all of us can emulate . Pastor Ray was a fearless true patriot who gave comfort and aid to any person who sought his help . He was the human face of eternal hope , who embodied the principles of equality for all . We w ish to express our love and admiration for a human being who strove relentlessly to enhance the lives of millions . Hamba kahle Pastor Ray .
Farouk Araie , Benoni
You r v iews
Sowetan Says Review the SA parole system now
Letter s
Govt must account for loss of lives
RIP Pastor Ray , an apostle of caring and giving