South Africa’s correctional system has lost track of nearly 28,000 absconded parolees – including convicted murderers, rapists and armed robbers – exposing systemic failures in supervision, tracing and coordination with the SAPS. Overcrowded prisons, an underfunded monitoring programme, and stalled reforms have placed strain on the parole system, resulting in a growing public safety crisis whereby offenders vanish, reoffend and remain largely beyond the state’s reach.