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Date : 04/08/2005
Source:Department of Correctional Services
Title: Balfour: Remission of sentence


  Statement by the Minister of Correctional Services, Ngconde Balfour, on the Remission of Sentence

When I announced the remission of sentence for sentenced offenders, parolees and probationers on Wednesday, 1 June, I stressed that there would not be a mass release of offenders and that releases would be spread over a period of ten weeks.

Since the implementation of this special remission from Monday, 13 June, a total of 30 704 offenders have been released from correctional centres country-wide. Of this total, 10 492 have been conditionally released and are now in the system of community corrections, while 20 212 have been released unconditionally. Furthermore, 33 972 probationers and parolees have also gained from the remission of sentence and have been discharged from community corrections.

All these releases were subject to stringent assessments and qualifying offenders were obliged to participate in compulsory pre-release programmes. The support that we received in implementing these remissions has been overwhelming with various organisations providing services to offenders that included assistance with their needs, assessing the potential risks, re-uniting with families and the general re-integration into communities.

I must point out that it was not an easy process as we had to consistently assess any possible impact on communities in our efforts, together with the South African Police Service, the departments of Social Development, Home Affairs and Education, to ensure that the safety of the public was not compromised.

Our partners including the South African Council of Churches, non-governmental organisation (NGOs) such as National Institute for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of Offenders (NICRO), SANCA and Khulisa as well as community-based and faith-based organisations including the Salvation Army, played a tremendous role in areas such as re-integration, providing ongoing support and assisting those released. Other organisations such as the National Youth Commission and Business Against Crime have also committed themselves to encouraging both the public and business to create employment opportunities for released offenders.

The entire process had been managed by a national task team coordinated by Chief Deputy Commissioner Jabu Sishuba, assisted by six regional task teams. Their work included compiling data on each release and ensuring that the weekly schedule was strictly adhered to.

The releases included 34 mothers with babies, 1 127 children under the age of 18 years and 11 231 youth. A total of 237 elderly persons were also released and 48 persons with disabilities. The total number of females released is 1 183.

As a department, we have also consistently warned those gaining from the remissions that if they spurn this second chance given to them by society by re-offending, we would ensure their immediate re-arrest in conjunction with the police. Despite the vast majority of those released heeding our calls, a total of 131 have since allegedly committed offences and have been admitted to correctional centres as awaiting trial detainees. They will face the full might of the law and will have to accept the consequences of their irresponsible and unacceptable behaviour. I have no sympathy for them and they must know that society does not take kindly to their actions. We will continue in our efforts to correct their offending behaviour and will ensure that our communities are protected against them. We are also conducting interviews with those who have re-offended in order to establish possible causal factors for their alleged re-offending. The information could assist us in improving our programmes of corrections.

While it was never the intention of these remissions to assist in dealing with overcrowding in correctional centres, it has had some impact, freeing valuable space that can now be used in implementing more effective rehabilitation programmes. We will continue in our efforts within the criminal justice system to manage overcrowding, always bearing in mind that the safety and security of the public remains our priority.

I want to thank the South African public, our partners and all those officials of the department who ensured that this process caused as little disruption as possible. I know that many people had concerns about the remissions but I want to assure them that every possible step had been taken to minimise any potential risks.

By the end of September, the national task team would present a final report on the remissions that would include their findings, recommendations and lessons learnt that could be utilised in our objective of promoting corrections as a societal responsibility.

Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304

Graham Abrahams
Cell: 082 453 2244

Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
4 August 2005

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