The head of public prosecutions in the province, Xolisile Khanyile, further added that unnatural deaths of offenders will, in future, also come down to 0.034% from 0.039%. She was speaking about the speedy finalisation of criminal trials and appeals at a roundtable discussion on the rights of arrested, detained and accused persons held on Tuesday at the Grootvlei Prison in Bloemfontein. 

Khanyile highlighted that overcrowding in prisons has increased from 29% to 32% and close to 40 000 remanded detainees are causing congestion. She said they were currently busy with a project that is reviewing people who have been convicted and sentenced, however, applied for leave to appeal and are no longer prosecuted.

“We are starting to bring people to jail now because they were supposed to be serving their sentences but they are not serving it because they have appeals that are going nowhere. Since we have started with the project, about five people have been arrested and notices to surrender were issued and they’re now back in prison. All the attorneys and everyone who is busy with an appeal is currently trying to have it finalised.”

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