More prisoners need to be released to curb Covid-19, says SASAPO
The South African Sentenced and Awaiting Trial Prisoners Organisation (SASAPO) has called on the Department of Correctional Services to release long-serving prisoners who have completed at least half of their sentences.
The organisation has expressed concern over the rise in Covid-19 infections in prisons around the country.
The confirmed positive infections at prisons have rose to 388 and over 93 recoveries on Sunday.
SASAPO chairperson Phindile Zweni says long-serving prisoners are less likely to re-offend.
"Those who have completed at least half of their sentences should be released as they are less likely to re-offend. The awaiting trialists who have been waiting for over five years should be released under strict supervision. We have evidence that Covid-19 kills and we cannot just sit back and allow prisoners to die.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last week that 19 000 low-risk prisoners would be released to deal with overcrowding in prisons and give authorities a chance to control the spread of the virus.
But Zweni believes more needs to be done.
"The release of 19000 prisoners is helpful, however, they should look in other ways of controlling this virus, prisoners are so overcrowded there is no way social distancing could be possible," he says.
"When Covid-19 started, we proposed that officials who work inside should not be allowed to go home, they should quarantine on sites and rotate in shifts. This was going to help curb the spread of Covid-19."
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