New medical parole board members announced

The 10-member medical parole board will commence its duties on 1 March 2012 when the Amendment Act and new regulations come into operation.

Speaking to journalists in Pretoria on Thursday, Mapisa-Nqakula said the board would have final say as to who gets parole.

She explained that the appointment of new board members did not mean an opening of floods gates of parolees, but the department was expecting the number of successful applications to double.

In the past, the department approved approximately 77 medical parole applications per year.

The board would, as part of its responsibilities, review all applications on medical grounds and would also develop a list of conditions that qualify under the new Act.

Dr Victor Ramathesele is the chairperson of the board and Dr Angelique Coetzee is the vice-chairperson. Other board members include Dr Sylvan Seane, Dr Langa Maphumulo, Dr Abel Maminze, Dr Siyolo Solombela, Dr Botwekazi Mgudlwa, Dr Marmol Stoltz, Dr Tsatsi Thekisho and Dr Tiny Mhinga.

"We have verified their qualifications," added the minister.