According to the Justice and Correctional Services Minister this forms part of the 4 138 inmates who have been released so far on special parole dispensation to curb the spread of the coronavirus in prisons. 

In a written response to North West's NCOP delegate, China Dodovu, Minister Ronald Lamola says progress has been made regarding the release of inmates from prison centres in response to Covid-19, although it is minimal. He says this is due to a long process that needs to be followed when releasing sentenced offenders on parole. Lamola says the initial release of low risk offenders to address the question of overcrowding in correctional facilities started on May 20, and over 4 000 inmates have now been released. He says this, however, still leaves them with an overcrowding level of approximately 25%.

While over 600 inmates have been released in both the Free State's and the Northern Cape's correctional facilities, the majority of those released are in the Western Cape with 998, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 882. 

Lamola has highlighted that plans have been made to integrate these inmates back into society to avoid re-offending. 

"Only low risk offenders who meet all the requirements and conditions for placement on parole, will be placed on parole," he said.

In addition to the requirements set by the department, Lamola says every qualifying sentenced offender's profile will be assessed and considered individually by the parole boards before they make any recommendations for placement on parole.

The department earlier this week announced that there were now more than 2 000 Covid-19 positive cases in the country's prisons with most of the patients being prisoners.

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