While a manhunt is under way for one of the suspects in theSaulsville hostel mass shooting, there is a broader conversation about him being a parolee who was released only three months ago. National police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola confirmed the suspect, who was jailed for attempted murder and extortion, is related to some victims and was allegedly among the gunmen who stormed a hostel room being used as an illegal shebeen on Saturday, killing 12 people and injuring 13 others. Three victims were children, aged three, 12 and 16.
The incident has reignited public debate about the state of the parole system. According to correctional services ministerPieter Groenewald, more than 18,000 parolees have reoffended in the past three years. Among the cases were 209 murders and 330 rapes recorded between 2024 and 2025.
Of the 46,627 inmates released on parole from 2022 to 2025, more than a third were arrested again. Many wonder if the rehabilitation system is effective.
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