This follows mounting public concern and pressure from various sectors of society.

Ramolobeng made the announcement during a committee briefing, revealing that the parole board had received a total of 45 medical parole applications since July last year, 16 from inmates serving life sentences and 29 from those serving shorter terms.

“The medical parole for lifers between July 3, 2024, to July 21, 2025, a total of 16 applications were received. Among those, only 3 were approved and 13 were not approved,” she said.

For inmates not serving life sentences, Ramolobeng confirmed that 23 of the 29 medical parole applications were approved, while six were declined.

The review will focus on the effectiveness, fairness and transparency of the medical parole process, particularly for life-term inmates. While SA’s Correctional Services Act allows for medical parole on grounds of terminal illness or severely incapacitating conditions, the system has come under increasing scrutiny over its application.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--