Latest news with #PortfolioCommitteeonCorrectionalServices
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Bail Fund pilot project for prisoners to be launched in WC
The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services conducted visits to correctional facilities in South Africa after concerns were raised about overcrowding. The committee was also concerned that 2,613 detainees have been granted bail of less than R1,000 but cannot afford this amount. Image: File OVER 2600 detainees have been granted bail of less than R1000 but cannot afford this amount. They are regarded as prisoners of poverty. These were some of the findings when the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services conducted visits to correctional facilities in South Africa, following concerns about overcrowding. They found that some families do not want to pay bail for some juvenile offenders because of the mischief they would cause in the community, and they believe that they would be better off in detention centres awaiting trial. The committee was also reacting to the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) progress report on the proposed Bail Fund for prisoners of poverty. On Tuesday, the JICS explained to the committee that the fund is a resource outside state institutions to advance bail monies for deserving remand detainees. Committee Chairperson Kgomotso Ramolobeng said that work still needs to be done, including an extensive public participation process to establish whether communities would be in favour of such a fund, which would allow offenders awaiting trial to be reintegrated into communities. The committee heard that a pilot project will soon be launched, likely in the Western Cape, to test the functioning of the fund. Remandees accused of certain crimes (gender-based violence, for example) will likely be excluded. The JICS held engagements with the Bertha Foundation, the Department of Correctional Services, the National Prosecuting Authority, and civil society to plan a way forward. The meeting resulted in support for the launch of a pilot project, an institutional base for the pilot project – Africa Criminal Justice Reform at the University of the Western Cape, and an unsolicited offer of philanthropic funding covering nearly half of the cost of the pilot. Ramolobeng said several committee members believed that communities feared accepting awaiting trial offenders back into communities due to the fear of re-offending. 'During recent oversight visits to correctional centres, we noted lots of awaiting trial detainees, including juveniles. They indicated families do not want to pay even these low amounts, believing that the youths cause mischief in their communities. Our impression was that if they were inside a detention centre, they were out of the family's hair,' she said. Ramolobeng said the committee will engage JICS and other stakeholders once it has sight of a more comprehensive plan. The committee found that correctional facilities are also releasing less offenders than what they are admitting due to the longer prison sentences imposed by the courts.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Concerns raised over proposed fund to help poor awaiting-trial prisoners
Portfolio Committee raises concerns over community readiness for proposed bail fund Image: File The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services has raised concerns about the potential implementation of a Bail Fund for South Africa. Introduced by the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS), the Bail Fund is designed to assist those awaiting trial who have been granted bail, yet face financial barriers preventing their release. Currently, 2,613 detainees or "prisoners of poverty" who have been approved for bail set at less than R1,000 but are unable to pay. Committee chairperson Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng, said broader public engagement was necessary before any further steps are taken. During the session on Tuesday, JICS revealed plans for a pilot project, likely to be launched in the Western Cape, aimed at assessing the operational viability of such a fund. However, it was indicated that individuals charged with certain serious crimes, such as gender-based violence, would be excluded from benefiting from the fund. The initiative intends to support only those defendants identified by the courts as non-threatening, who have a reliable home address, and pose no risk to public safety or state witnesses while out on bail. Ramolobeng acknowledged that while there is consensus on the need for the fund, committee members are wary of community sentiments towards reintegrating awaiting trial offenders, expressing that many community members harbour fears of re-offending. "During our recent oversight visits to correctional facilities, we observed numerous detainees, including juveniles, who had low bail amounts set. Upon inquiry, families often refused to pay even these small sums, believing that the youths stirred trouble in their communities," she explained. An essential aspect of the discussion was the plan for monitoring those released on bail. Concerns were raised about how re-offending would be tracked, as well as the implications should bail money be forfeited if families are unable to pay or if offenders violate their bail conditions. Ramolobeng noted that "the committee is keen to understand how JICS will ensure compliance and prevent further offences while released on bail." The committee encouraged JICS to continue collaborating with key partners, including the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Ramolobengsaid the committee will monitor this space and engage JICS and other stakeholders once it has sight of a more comprehensive plan. IOL
The Citizen
14-05-2025
- The Citizen
Why Chris Hani's killer went free but Alison Botha's rapists went back to jail
Minister Pieter Groenewald explained the legalities of Janusz Walus' release and the reason for revoking the bail of two rapists. The Department of Correctional Services has explained the difference between two high-profile parole cases. Janusz Walus, the executor of Chris Hani, was deported back to his homeland late last year after his parole term had expired. Months later, two men convicted of leaving their rape victim for dead outside Port Elizabeth were rearrested while serving parole. Janusz Walus back to Poland Addressing the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, Minister Pieter Groenewald explained how the cases reached seemingly contradictory outcomes. After the Pole was unrepentant in a post-homecoming interview, defenders of Hani's legacy soon called for Walusz to be returned to South Africa to face further justice. The minister explained that Walus' case was handled under the Van Vuren Constitutional Court judgment, which covered death sentences handed down before March 1994. Paul Van Vuren was in November 1992 sentenced to death after being convicted of murder, robbery, theft and the possession of an unlicensed firearm. In September 2000, his death sentence was commuted to a life sentence and in 2007, he approached the Constitutional Court, which ruled on his application to approach the High Court to argue his case for parole. 'Mr Van Vuren's case appears to be premised on the prejudice he may suffer if the statutory provision in question is retrospective in effect,' the 2007 judgment read. 'His case may implicate any changes in parole policy from 1994 and the proper interpretation of related provisions,' it continued. The case of Alison Botha The Van Vuren judgment allowed those with commuted death sentences to be eligible for a three-year parole period after serving their full life sentence, with Groenewald clarifying that 360 inmates had since benefited from this ruling. The second matter relates to Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger, who in 1997, were convicted of raping Allison Botha and dumping her body outside Port Elizabeth with multiple stab wounds and a slit throat. The rapists were released on parole in 2024 after the standard application, recommendation and risk analysis process had been conducted. However, after their releases, Botha's lawyers threatened the department with litigation, claiming that no victim consultation on their parole was conducted. Legal advice and the brutality of Du Toit's and Kruger's crime, as described during their prosecution, forced Groenewald to rescind their parole. 'The Minister's primary consideration is the imperative of protecting and securing the community, particularly in instances where acts of violence against women and children have been committed,' the department stated upon their reimprisonment. NOW READ: Hani's hitman: 'Nationalists' give Janusz Waluś a hero's welcome in Poland
Zawya
12-03-2025
- Zawya
South Africa: Correctional Services Committee Updated on Learnership Programme
The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services yesterday received a briefing from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) on its Learnership programme selection process, targets and progress achieved to date. The committee heard that the current developmental programme for the training of entry-level correctional officers is the Corrections Services Learnership programme. Its main aim is to assist with youth employment and empowerment, and it also serves as a pool from which entry-level appointments are made. Committee Chairperson Ms Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng said the committee is aware that there was an intake in 2021 and some were supposed to be absorbed into the system. 'The previous committee received a briefing and certain commitments were made. We would like an update on those commitments,' said Ms Ramolobeng. Recruitment of the 6 192 learner positions entails the appointment of 50% of applicants with a Grade 12, a National Certificate in Vocational Studies or a Further Education and Training Certificate. The remaining 50% comprises a focused recruitment of those who have DCS-related qualifications, with preference given to those with qualifications in Corrections, Penology and Criminology and those with qualifications/skills that will support the implementation of the Self-Sufficiency and Sustainability Strategy. The DCS received over 1.2 million applications. The committee heard that the DCS programme can accommodate an intake of 1 032 learners at two training colleges: Kroonstad (with a capacity of 540) and Zonderwater Training College (with a capacity of 492). The programme runs for 12 months – 16 weeks of theoretical training at the colleges and the rest of the period constitutes experiential learning at the correctional centres. Learners who have successfully completed the Learnership will be considered for permanent employment in the department as correctional officials. Group 1 will commence on 1 April 2025 subject to the completion of all personal suitability checks. Thus far, the selection process has gone well at all centres, except for the score/result sheets for physical fitness assessments, which were tampered with at Kgosi Mampuru II Management Area in Gauteng. The Regional Commissioner has referred the matter to the Inspectorate for Investigation. The assessments were repeated at the beginning of March. Ms Ramoboleng said: 'The department needs to ensure that the first group of learners into the programme are those that meet the criteria and are without any questionable suitability issues to ensure credibility of the programme. Strict measures must be applied, such as vetting of applicants, to prevent nepotism, as alleged in the past. The committee received several complaints regarding the recruitment and appointment process into the programme previously,' she highlighted. The committee also heard that in the interests of achieving a reformed, integrated and modern criminal justice system (CJS), the department intends increasing its capacity by employing 12 950 correctional officers by 2030. In order to achieve this target, the DCS will have to train 3 000 learners per annum. However, this staff increase depends on the DCS's funding levels. The committee wished the DCS well for the start of the 2025 Leadership programme in April. 'The intake will assist in dealing with the ratio of inmates versus officials, as the current ratio in some centres is concerning and might compromise security in some instances,' said Ms Ramolobeng. 'We resolved to visit to two training facilities in order to allow [the committee] to see the conditions of the facility and assess the training provided to the learners, including the learning material. Furthermore, the committee wants a detailed breakdown on the dropout rate from the programme over the years, a report on the investigation into allegations of tampering with fitness results and nepotism in the Eastern Cape, Free State and Gauteng Region and subsequent consequence management to be implemented,' emphasised Ms Ramolobeng. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
