President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved the release of 14,647 offenders on pardons and remissions to mark Reconciliation Day.
On Monday, Ramaphosa granted a special remission of sentence to specific categories of sentenced offenders, probationers and parolees.
“Remissions of sentences are always carefully considered, taking into account the interests of the public and the administration of justice. We recognise that incarceration has followed a judicial process and that sentences have been duly imposed after conviction,” the president said.
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said the process would start immediately and may take up to nine months.
The pardons will not include offenders sentenced for sexual offences, murder and attempted murder, armed robbery, mentally-ill sedition, high treason, sabotage and terrorism.
As of November 2019, there were 163,015 offenders across the country’s 243 correctional centres for both sentenced and remand detainees. The
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