Thousands of prisoners released on parole but only 329 in EC

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Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola says just over 4 000 low-risk offenders have been released on parole.

That’s to ease prison population figures to minimise the risk of Coronavirus spreading in correctional centres.

Lamola told Parliament on Tuesday that the department began with the process to release selected low-risk offenders last month and initial releases started on the 20^th of May.

As at the 24^th of June, the total number of offenders released was 4 138 of which 329 were released in the Eastern Cape.

This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa approved the parole of about 19 000 low-risk offenders in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 in overcrowded prisons.

As of the 30^th of June, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Department of Correctional Services stood at 2 424, comprising 1 193 officials and 1 231 inmates. There are 705 active cases.