Prisons have released 17 356 sentenced offenders since the special remission of sentence for offenders started on June 13, the government announced in Pretoria on Wednesday.
In a media statement, the justice, crime prevention and security cluster of departments said that by Tuesday 17 356 prisoners had been released.
”Of these, 1 000 were children and 8 707 were youth aged between 18 and 25 years.”
The special amnesty was granted by President Thabo Mbeki in an effort to reduce the pressure caused by overcrowding in prisons.
Under the programme a maximum of six months special remission of sentences was granted to all sentenced offenders, probationers, parolees and day parolees irrespective of the crime category.
An additional maximum of 14 months special remission of sentence would be granted in respect of offenders guilty of certain non-violent crimes.
Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour has repeatedly said that only prisoners not sentenced for violent crimes were eligible for amnesty, and warned released offenders that those rearrested would receive no sympathy.
”Released offenders making themselves guilty of repeat offending can expect no sympathy from the criminal justice system. The South African Police Service and the Department of Correctional Services are working closely to identify released offenders that are rearrested,” he said on Wednesday. – Sapa