By Daniel Itai, Bergville, South Africa.
(News of The South) – South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday announced the remission of sentences to 14 647 inmates as part of celebrating the country’s Reconciliation day.
Sentenced offenders, probationers and parolees across all of South Africa’s prisons, will soon be scott free.
The remission process will start this week which will have women, children, the elderly and people living with disabilities as the primary focus.
“In commemorating the 25 years of democracy and in line with established international practice, I have decided in terms of the constitution to grant a special remission of sentence to specific categories of sentenced offenders, probationers and parolees.
Remissions of sentences are always carefully considered taking into account the interests of the public and the administration of justice.
The minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, will provide the relevant details and specific circumstances with regard to the remission and the release of those prisoners and relevant offenders.
It must be emphasized that this remission of sentences excludes those who have sentences for sexual offenses, violent aggressive offenses as well as people who are declared dangerous criminals,” said Ramaphosa.
However, South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said the remission of sentences by Ramaphosa was a slap to the victims.
“The slap in the face that this reckless, foolhardy approach represents to literally thousands of South Africans who fall victim to crime on a daily basis, cannot be overstated.
To suggest that South African prisons shall only be for serious crimes against the people, and shall aim at re-education, not vengeance is to understate the nature of the problem to the point of the bizarre,” said Glynnis Breytenbach, the DA’s spokesperson on Justice and Correctional Services.
Presidential remission is not new to South Africa, previous Presidents, Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma have all issued out remissions before.
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