More work needs to be done before the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) implements a bracelet-mounted Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) for parolees, a Parliamentary questioner was told.

Democratic Alliance (DA) National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Member of Parliament (MP) who sits on the NCOP Select Committee on Security and Justice (SCSJ) Nicholas Gotsell heard from Minister Pieter Groenewald that work to date has seen the DCS and the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) develop 10 prototype EMS bracelets.

The project, Gotsell was informed, is a research and development one. It will assess systems integration, software backend, location awareness and geographical fencing among others.

Importantly, full development after proof of concept will ensure South Africa owns the intellectual property (IP) rights and data derived from the system.

The need for further work was identified after a two and a half month test of the bracelets, termed “devices” in the Ministerial response, which adds “further development requirements are being explored”.

The Department conducted tests on the devices at its Kgosi Mampuru II Management Area from 13 November 2023 to 31 January 2024.

As always where taxpayer money is involved, Groenewald notes the EMS bracelets could monitor parolees and probationers “dependent on availability of funds to meet the requisite volumes”.