Correctional Services refutes allegations around Covid-19 parole
The Department of Justice and Correctional Services has hit back at the South African Sentenced and Awaiting Trial Prisoners Organisation (Sasapo) amid threats by the organisation to drag the minister to court.
The organisation claims only a handful of the 19 000 prisoners, who were due to be released following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement in May, have actually been set free.
It believes the delay amounts to a violation of human rights.
But the department’s spokesperson Chrispin Phiri says the parole, which is meant to control the spread of Covid-19 in prisons, will not happen overnight.
Covid-19 parole done on case-by-case basis, says Lamola
Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola says placing on parole of some prisoners will be done on a case-by-case basis. Lamola provided details of the Covid-19 parole announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday afternoon. Ramaphosa has authorised the release of some 19,000 prisoners to contain the spread of the virus in correctional facilities.
He says it is a long process and several facts have to be taken into account.
"Over and above that, what Sasapo has not made clear to the public is that they requested that the parole dispensation also attends to life sentences. We must always characterise the type of individuals who get life sentences in our correctional facilities. These are in the main murders, rapists, armed robbers, people who have caused substantial harm to the communities.
"And we do know that though one may qualify for parole at some stage it is a privilege, and it is something the department over the years had to manage with great due care and skill.”
Listen to Phiri below: