Lamola wants over 6000 awaiting-trial prisoners released

Lamola wants over 6000 awaiting-trial prisoners released

The Department of Justice and Correctional Services wants over 6000 awaiting-trial prisoners to be released on bail.

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Photo: Maryke Vermaak

This as the number of coronavirus infections in the country’s prison system jumped to 605 on Monday.

 

Minister Ronald Lamola's spokesperson Chrispin Phiri says there is a process underway for the consideration of lowering bail amounts so that these prisoners can go home and ease overcrowding in prisons.

 

"It is work in progress as it is a process that requires us to identify who qualifies for bail of less than R5000 and to consult the NPA about the type of crime.”


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"We would also have to appear before a magistrate to consider reviewing their bail condition. Because the setting of payment of R5000 is essentially a bail condition, so what we will be asking magistrates to do is, in light of Covid-19, is to review it because some of these individuals cannot afford the bail.”

 

Phiri adds the process has been ongoing since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. 

 

A total of 19 000 low-risk prisoners are expected to be released in a bid to ease overcrowding in prisons and halt the surge of Covid-19 infections.

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