Question NW2049 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
24 August 2023 - NW2049
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Whether Christiaan Prinsloo, a former Police Colonel, convicted of stealing policeowned firearms and selling them to, amongst others, Cape Town gangs, racketeering, corruption and theft, who as a result was sentenced to an effective 18 years of direct imprisonment on 21 June 2016 by the Bellville Regional Court, has been released on parole; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) on what date and (b) what process was followed prior to his release?
Reply:
a) Offender Christiaan Prinsloo was released on parole on 04 August 2020, and his sentence will expire on 20 June 2033.
b) The offender in question benefitted from the special remission of sentence granted by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 16 December 2019, which reduced his sentence with one (01) year. He then became eligible to be considered for parole as part of the Special Parole Dispensation and his placement on parole was approved by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB).
The following factors were inter alia taken into consideration when an offender was considered for possible placement on parole:
- the offender ‘s response to development and treatment programmes associated with rehabilitation;
- the existence and quality of support systems in the community;
- the probability of re-offending;
- the risk that the offender may pose to the community at large;
- the outcome of restorative justice processes and possible referral for mediation if it had not been done prior to the CSPB meeting; and
- the risk to the victim.
END