South Africa
Africa
Pre-trial detention
Minors
Activities
Rehabilitation
South Africa
The Judicial Inspectorate Correctional Services (Jics) issued statistics stating that as of May 31, there were 55 children in remand detention, 3 105 juveniles awaiting trial, 42 children sentenced and 1 503 juveniles sentenced. Jics spokesperson Emerantia Cupido said between 2019 and 2020 there we…
Source — IOL
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Africa
Protest
Violence
South Africa
JICS spokesperson Emerantia Cupido said the use of force increased by 126, between 2019 and 2020.
She said given the lack of a functioning reporting system, the reports received from the DCS could not be verified and were likely to be under-reported.
Cupido said the majority of reports received on…
Source — IOL
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South Africa: managing uncertainty
Analysis
Africa
Coronavirus
Health
Material conditions
Protest
Overcrowding
Activities
Social ties
South Africa
As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the South African authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?
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Africa
Material conditions
Facilities
Torture
Violence
South Africa
Violence has deep roots in South Africa, going back to colonial conquest and the apartheid state, which ruled by the gun and the whip. Its citizens continue to live in fear of violent crime at home and on the streets. Which is why the perpetrators of crime in the country — and particularly those wh…
Source — Global Investigative Journalism Network
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South Africa: sounding the alarm
Interview
Africa
Coronavirus
Justice
Health
Material conditions
Social ties
South Africa
“The numbers kept going up, and up, and up and up…”. More than 2,700 South African prisoners are infected with the coronavirus. We have asked three questions to the NGO Sonke Gender Justice.
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Africa
Coronavirus
Long-term prisoners
Health
Material conditions
Overcrowding
South Africa
Inmates serving lengthy sentences for serious and violent crimes say basic regulations to combat the spread of the coronavirus are being flouted, putting their lives at risk.
Source — New Frame
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Africa
Coronavirus
Women
Minors
South Africa
The correctional services department is making plans for babies of two offenders at an East London female prison to be taken to their mothers’ families after cases of Covid-19 at the correctional facility.
There are 26 confirmed coronavirus cases at the East London Correctional Centre. Three are in…
Source — Times Live
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Africa
Rehabilitation
South Africa
But Fees Must Fall activist Kanya Cekeshe says he hopes to empower prisoners and help them gain more rights.
Source — All Africa
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South Africa: community service for offenders with short sentences to alleviate prison overcrowding
News
Overcrowding
South Africa
Cape Town – Offenders who have been handed sentences of less than two years will serve their time doing community service. This decision has been made by Acting High Court Judge AJ Thulare in a bid to curb overcrowding in prisons.
The move has been welcomed by Department of Correctional Services re…
Source — IOL
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Material conditions
South Africa
On the anniversary this week of Sonke Gender Justice and Lawyers for Human Rights’ Pollsmoor overcrowding court victory, we should remember why the state of our prisons matter – and consider what we should be doing to improve conditions.
Source — Daily Maverick
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South Africa
Prison violence, the disruptive behaviour of some inmates, high numbers of escapes in the 1990s and a public demand to be tough on crime led the South African government to replicate the American approach of dealing with very violent and dangerous offenders: building two super-maximum security pris…
Source — Daily Maverick
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