Controversy mars release of offenders

The Past Offender Youth Group (POYG) has applauded the remission process that will see a total of 2 800 prisoners released in the Free State and Northern Cape.

They have, however, expressed concern about whether those released will be able to function normally as part of their communities.

The announcement was made by President Jacob Zuma during the celebrations of Freedom Day on April 27. Some 1 000 prisoners will be released from Grootvlei Prison in Bloemfontein. This will ease the burden of this correctional service facility that was declared over 100 percent overcrowded.

POYG is an organisation championing the curbing of repeat offending by ex-offenders. The group’s leader, Chris Josephs, believes that being released from prison is both good and bad for an offender. He said this is because they find it difficult to intergrate back into their communities and find decent jobs.

He explained that skills offered at a correctional facility are not enough to guarantee a good and fulfilling life.

“There is always a connotation attached to you that says you are not a human being. Because if this was not the case, people should be able to give us a second chance and let us reconstruct our life again. This remission process is a very good thing but government must be able to create a platform for us to be able to make a living.

“If you are a past offender it is difficult to get a job or even funding to help you practise the skills you have learned in prison. How can they teach a person to be a carpenter in three weeks and not be able to help that person to be placed in a company that needs that skill? The government must help in making our life better after we serve time for our mistakes.”

Josephs acknowledged that unemployment is rife in the country but believes with the skills acquired in prison, ex-offenders should be able to get a job. He added that prisoners want to open businesses but they cannot access funding from government and financial institutions.

President Zuma said a six month blanket special remission of sentences for all sentenced offenders, probationers and parolees will be provided. An additional 12 month special remission will be made for all sentenced inmates, probationers and parolees, excluding those sentenced for aggressive, sexual, firearm and drug-related offences, and people declared dangerous criminals.

Deputy regional commissioner Grace Molatedi was quoted in a local newspaper promising that there will be no mistake with the release of the offenders.

“This we can assure you: we will not make faults [with releases]. Everyone released will adhere to stringent requirements and must have followed a rehabilitation programme. There is control even afterwards,” she told the newspaper.

This process is said to start this month in the province. This is not the first time that this had happened in the country; former presidents of the country have also done it.

There was a remission of sentences when former president Nelson Mandela was inaugurated on the first Freedom Day of the country on 27 April 1995; when Mandela was celebrating his 80th birthday in 1998; and also when President Thabo Mbeki marked his second term in office in 2005.