Convicts out on remission

EIGHT female offenders will be released from the West Bank Correctional Centre today on a special remission.

This comes after President Jacob Zuma’s announced at the recent Freedom Day celebration in Pretoria that certain convicts would be released.

Last week 4 495 probationers and parolees in the Eastern Cape were released out of a total of 4 800 who have been granted remission.

The remaining 305 offenders will be released during the coming weeks.

The special remission applies to all offenders except those who committed serious violent crimes.

According to a statement released by the department of correctional services spokesman Zama Feni, the offender population in the Eastern Cape correctional centres is between 19 000 and 20 000 while the approved official accommodation is 12 300.

“One of the projected benefits that the special remission of sentence will bring to the department is the reduction of overcrowding in our correctional centres.

“The reduction in overcrowding will in turn create an environment conducive for delivering effective rehabilitation programmes to offenders,” said Feni in the statement. — Siya Boya