157 offenders back in jail

2005-09-08 13:04

Cape Town - Of the 65 837 prisoners released earlier this year 157 prisoners were rearrested, including two for alleged rape, and are awaiting trial.

"There are two incidents of alleged rape. It's terrible when it happens," said deputy correctional service minister Cheryl Gillwald addressing journalists at Parliament on Thursday.

She was part of a report back by Justice, Crime Prevention and Security ministers, chaired by Safety and Security minister Charles Nqakula.

But Gillwald said the rearrested figures had been kept below one percent which was an "extraordinary effort".

"It deeply offends and wounds us when people do reoffend," she said.

Nqakula reported that of the prisoners released as part of the special remission of sentences between June 13 and August 10 this year, 1 156 were children and 11 411 were youths.

He said 242 were older than 65 and 48 were living with disabilities.

"Female offenders released were 1 202 while foreign nationals were 411."

The 157 rearrested prisoners constituted 0.24% of offenders released.

The operation was one of the most intensive programmes ever completed over 10 weeks and was regarded as being successful, Nqakula said.

- SAPA