As part of finding solutions to South Africa’s high rate of imprisonment and breaking the cycle of crime, Minister of Correctional Services Sibusiso Ndebele will address Religious Leaders in East London.
Media are invited to cover the event.
Details are as follows:
Date: Friday, 26 July 2013
Time: 09h00
Venue: East London Correctional Centre, Bank Street, Wesbank, East London,
Eastern Cape
We wish to request media attending to please confirm attendance by sending their full names, ID or passport numbers, media house, mobile number and email address, preferably by no later than 14h00 tomorrow (Thursday, 25 July 2013), to Tshidi Mapole at Matshidiso.Mapole@dcs.gov.za or 076 478 3620.
As at 17th July, South Africa’s inmate population was 151,873; 43,335 (28,53%) were remand detainees, and 108,538 were sentenced offenders. There were beds for 119,216 inmates, which equates to overcrowding of 27,4%. Between 8 to 10% of sentenced offenders are serving sentences of 24 months and less.
In addition, 65,931 offenders are outside correctional centres living in their respective communities; 48,716 are parolees, 15,491 are probationers (serving non-custodial sentences) and 1,724 are awaiting-trial.
Minister Ndebele said: “The mandate of the Department of Correctional Services is to contribute to a safer South Africa, through promoting family unity and stronger community systems, as well as victim support and empowerment, while pursuing the rehabilitation of those incarcerated through well-managed rehabilitation programmes.
Rehabilitation must impact the hearts, heads and hands of offenders. The trilogy of victim, offender and community must play a leading role in the implementation of these programmes. In this regard, the religious fraternity is an important role-player.”
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 644 4050
