Alarm at high number of remand prisoners

THE Department of Correctional Services has a staggering population of 57 000 remand detainees while prisons are bursting at the seams with an overcrowding of 163 000 inmates.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

The department said its attempts to refer cases to court for some categories of prisoners to be released to serve community corrections were not yielding much success as fewer matters were approved.

A presentation to the portfolio committee last week showed that there were 57901 remand detainees as at June 30.

Chief deputy commissioner for remand detainees Cynthia Ramulifho said the prison population stood at 163 179.

She said the court referrals, made on the basis of the Criminal Procedure and Correctional Services Acts, were used to reduce overcrowding in prisons.

Ramulifho said there were 71 unsentenced children while 41 were incarcerated.