The release on parole of about 8 000 prisoners will be speeded up to relieve overcrowding in the country’s jails, Correctional Services Minister Ben Skosana said on Tuesday.
This would be done by advancing their parole date by 10 months, he told reporters in Pretoria.
”That will give us more than 8 000 people. Cabinet has approved that one.”
Skosana, along with other minister in the security cluster, was briefing reporters about the Cabinet’s recent lekgotla or planning session.
The new measure would only apply to prisoners whose parole had already been approved. They would still leave prison under parole conditions, Skosana said.
He said a proposal by inspecting judge of prisons Hannes Fagan was also being examined to release awaiting-trial prisoners with bail of less than R1 000.
This would apply to petty crimes only.
”The numbers in this case range from 13 000 to 15 000. This also being looked by the department of justice and the national prosecuting authority,” Skosana said.
The total prison population currently stood at 180 000 people, with about 70 000 people out on parole.
Skosana said the option of presidential pardons for certain categories of prisoners, was not on the cards at present. – Sapa