The National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Tom Moyane, has reacted with shock and disbelief at the news of a probationer who fell to her death from the sixth floor of the Head Office in Pretoria today.
At about 12h00 today, 11 November 2010, an absconded 23 year-old Attridgeville probationer, whose name cannot be published at this stage, fell to her death after a brief appearance before officials facilitating her appearance before a correctional supervision and parole board in Pretoria.
The young female offender was found guilty of theft and trespassing in 2007 and sentenced on the 18 December 2007 to a 15 month correctional supervision. She absconded and could not be traced until her re-arrest by correctional officials on the 9 November 2010 and placement on a mandatory 48 hour detention period applicable to all probation violators.
She was brought to the Community Correction offices located at the Poyntons Building for processing of her documents in preparation for appearance before a Correctional Supervision and Parole Board. Preliminary reports indicate that during the processing of paper work, she requested to go to the private room and escaped through the window before either falling to her death from the sixth floor, leaving unsuspecting officials and her mother in the offices.
The probationer's mother and correctional officials that witnessed the traumatic incident were immediately taken for counselling. After being briefed of the incident while on the first leg of his regional visits at the Potchefstroom Correctional Centre, Commissioner Moyane described the death as needless and instructed an in-depth investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
The matter has been reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS) who have begun with the investigation, while the department also commissioned an internal investigation.
On behalf of the leadership and staff of Correctional Services, Commissioner Moyane expressed his “heartfelt condolences to the family, relatives and friends” of the young probationer. A full statement on the incident will be issued when the investigations have been completed.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
