8 000 to get out on parole

2003-08-05 12:49

Pretoria - A parole of about 8 000 prisoners will be speeded up to relieve overcrowding in jails, says Correctional Services Minister Ben Skosana.

He said on Tuesday this would be done by advancing their parole date by 10 months.

"That will give us more than 8 000 people. The cabinet has approved that one."

Skosana, along with other ministers in the security cluster, was briefing the media about the cabinet's recent lekgotla or planning session.

The new measure would apply only to prisoners whose parole had already been approved. They would still leave prison under parole conditions, said Skosana.

A proposal by inspecting judge of prisons Hannes Fagan was also being examined to release awaiting-trial prisoners with bail of less than R1 000.

This would apply to petty crimes only.

Skosana said: "The numbers in this case range from 13 000 to 15 000. This is also being looked at by the department of justice and the national prosecuting authority."

The total prison population stands at 180 000, with about 70 000 out on parole.

Skosana said the option of presidential pardons for certain categories of prisoners, was not on the cards at present.

- SAPA