Programme Director
National Commissioner of Correctional Services
Senior Management of Correctional Services
DCS Officials and Offenders
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press
The process of releasing certain categories of offenders on Special Remission of Sentence started three days after the President’s announcement on Freedom Day, the 27th April 2012. The release programme commenced on 30 April 2012 and today marks the successful closure of this 10 week process in which we had to release a total of 43 789 offenders (including those who are being released today) from 241 Correctional Centres and the system of Community Corrections.
To date, we have released a total of 43 169 offenders against a projected total of 43 789. From this total, 25 338 were parolees and probationers (those serving sentences outside Correctional Centres) released from Community Corrections Systems. This figure represents 100% of parolees and probationers released by the end of May. All these inmates had already attended our Correctional and Pre-Release Programmes when they were diverted to Community Corrections Systems before the Special Remission of Sentence came into effect.
A total of 17 831 offenders were released from Correctional Centres by 29 June 2012. Of these, 7 584 (43%) were released with conditions attached, into the system of community corrections and 10 247 (57%) were released unconditionally because their sentences have expired. This (17 831) figure represents 98% of releases. The remaining 2% will be finalised today with the releases from our six regions. Prior to releasing this group, the department has verified the addresses where these offenders will be released to.
The bulk of them will remain in the system as they are being released conditionally to community corrections. During the preparations for the Special Remission of Sentence 2012, the department established a Toll Free number and an e-mail address where members of the community and offenders themselves could direct their enquiries related to the special remission of sentence.
Members of the media
I want to state forthright that although the rate of re-offending among the offenders released can be considered low, the department condemns every single act of criminality in the strongest possible way. One re-offender is one too many. A total of 90 inmates have been re-admitted up to 29 June 2012 as reported by the regions.
Twenty of them have been re-sentenced by a court. Of the remaining 70 alleged re-offenders, 18 did not return back to our Correctional Centres, 2 paid bail, 1 committed suicide whilst in custody of SAPS and 49 are now remand detainees. The longest sentence imposed on any of the 20 who were resentenced was 3 years – which is an indication of the severity of the crime. Nine of the 20 received the option of a fine.
The detailed statistics of re-admission are as follows:
Parolees/ probationers readmitted: Total: 26 (Western Cape = 12, Free State/ North Cape = 9, KwaZulu-Natal =2, Eastern Cape = 3). This represents 0.1% of the 25 338 probationers/ parolees released.
Offenders readmitted: Total: 64 (Western Cape = 31, Free State/ North Cape = 15, Gauteng = 7, Eastern Cape = 8, KwaZulu-Natal = 2, LMN = 1). This represents 0.36% of the 17 831 offenders released up to 29 June 2012.
Total readmitted: 90 (Western Cape = 43, Free State/ North = 24, Gauteng = 7, Eastern Cape = 11, KwaZulu-Natal = 4, LMN = 1). This represents 0.21% of 43 169 probationers, parolees and offenders in correctional centres that were released up to 29 June 2012.
In light of these releases, there have been some misconceptions that remission was granted by the President to alleviate overcrowding. Overcrowding was not a motivating factor in the decision by the President to grant the remission. The department however welcomes the reduced overcrowding rate brought about by this Special Remission as it will help to improve the living conditions of offenders in some correctional centres and it will enable staff to improve the safety and security of inmates. It will also assist staff to concentrate on rehabilitation.
The problem of overcrowding in correctional centres is a key challenge, which negatively affects the ability of the department of to rehabilitate offenders. Correctional centres are on average 34% overpopulated (2010/11 financial year). Statistics show a downward trend because of new interventions introduced by the department.
Ladies and gentlemen
The granting of remissions is an international phenomenon and is exercised world-wide in democracies and is the 5th of its kind in our country. Each one of the five remissions had its own significance. It is not only an International phenomenon, in our case Special Remission is enshrined in our Constitution and in terms of Section 84(2)(j), the President was well within his legal rights when he granted the Special Remission.
Since 1994, Special Remissions of sentence have been granted on various occasions – the Inauguration of the President Mandela on 10 May 1994, the celebration of the first anniversary of South Africa’s democracy on 27 April 1995, in celebration of the 80th birthday of President Mandela on 18 July 1998 and on 30 May 2005 in celebration of the first decade (10 years) of Democracy in South Africa.
This practice also recognised the strategic direction of the 2005 White Paper on Corrections and the commitment of the democratic government to provide offenders with rehabilitative interventions and a second chance to take their place as socially responsible citizens.
The President granted six months remission of sentence to all sentenced offenders. An additional 12 months special remission was granted to offenders who were not convicted of aggressive crimes, firearm related crimes, sexual offenses and drug related crimes. Those declared as dangerous by the court, those who were still at large after escaping or absconding, and those who evaded the Justice system following their release on bail pending appeal against their convictions/sentences were excluded from the remissions.
Amid fears expressed in some sectors of the media on the competence of our rehabilitation, Correctional and Pre-Release Programmes, as the department we are satisfied that the administration of the remission was a success. The release process was administered well and characterised by efficient teamwork and efficient coordination by our officials at national, regional and management area levels.
All offenders who benefitted were exposed to a pre-release programme to prepare them for their reintegration back into society.
The department is steadily increasing its ability to provide rehabilitation programmes. This is evident in that between 80 and 90% of offenders who qualify for rehabilitation programmes are attending the programmes. A total of 116 716 offenders attended corrections programmes in 2011/12.
Furthermore, the department is going to provide some programmes to remand detainees such as vocational skills training. This was not done before. We are also going to extend its rehabilitation programmes to short term offenders, i.e. those with sentences shorter than 24 months. This was not done before.
All our efforts to change the behavioural patterns of offenders and to curb recidivism will not succeed if families of these offenders and communities do not support them. It is important for society to realise that correction is a societal responsibility. It calls for government and communities to join hands in finding ways to help those who have been released to become law-abiding and valuable citizens. We will not get tired to call-and-call over-and-over again until communities heed to our call and take part in the corrections cycle.
We call on all offenders who benefited from this special remission to reintegrate into their communities and make the most of the second chance that they are being given to become socially responsible citizens. Some have done just that in the shortest of time imaginable. There are no guarantees in life. However, we must persevere and wait for our turn.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am now going to talk about rehabilitation success stories Offender Andile Jara who was actively involved in the Marimba Band and a musical group at the Amathole Management Area in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, is now temporarily involved in a Drama Project at Rhodes University. ) Another remission offender from Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, Fredoleen Isaacs, who was serving his sentence at St Albans Centre in Port Elizabeth has now been absorbed at her family business as a manager of the Pharmacy. Here we appreciate the family support that has been given to her by her parents – this is a fitting example that we are referring to when we emphasise the need for family support. It all begins in the family.
Other examples of successful reintegration are the stories of Moeketsi Koko who was released from Bloemfontein Community Corrections in the Free State and Northern Cape Region. Koko received a bursary from Capricorn Training to study under the Institute of Safety, Health and Environment. The other is Goodwill Mofokeng from Kroonstad Management Area in the same region who is now employed by the Department of Education at Boromelo Combined School as a teacher.
Kassavan Naicker from Pietermaritzburg Correctional Centre, KwaZulu-Natal in now his own boss. He is an electrician who is capitalising on the skill he learned while incarcerated. Another offender is Vumokwakhe Mkhize from the same area who now owns a panel beating company. He also acquired his skills in our facilities.
Ladies and gentlemen, our rehabilitation programmes work.
We have Paul Evans in the Western Cape who fruitfully used his time of incarceration to acquire a qualification in IT through Unisa. He is now the head of Information Technology (IT) at MED Advertising. There are many examples to mention. However, I appeal to society to assist particularly those who will fall on hard times. They need all of us to successfully reintegrate and permanently divert from the life of crime.
I thank you.
Enquires contact:
Adv. Mahlodi Sam Muofhe
Tel: 012 305 8228 / 021 464 6005
Cell: 082 972 0141
E-mail: mahlodi.muofhe@dcs.gov.za
Address by the Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Dr Ngoako Ramatlhodi at the closure of the releases on special remission of Sentence
