Parole: new board presented
24 Feb 2012
PRETORIA ●— Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula yesterday discouraged the use of the term “terminally ill” to refer to inmates released on medical parole.

She said it was difficult for doctors to say when an inmate was at a terminal stage, because they were expected to answer why the released person had not died.

“It’s not in our hands when the person is going to die,” she said.

Mapisa-Nqakula was introducing the members of the new medical parole advisory board in Pretoria.

The 10-member panel, to be chaired by Dr Victor Ramathesele, will independently review all applications for medical parole.

The new board will come into effect on March 1.

— Sapa.