SA's prisons could run out of beds as crime rate surges

[AstroTurf]

I can thing of 1041 beds they could easily open up...

 

[ForceFate]

Why are beds needed? What's wrong with a basic mattress on the floor and a cheap blanket? Fit many more people into a cell. After all, a large chunk of our population lives like that anyway, and the roofs over their heads are less weather-proof.

I think they meant space

 

[R13...]

Our roads are filthy. Our sewage systems are overflowing. They can clean our rivers of rubble.

And deny some cadre a chance at overnight riches from tender fraud, nah.

 

[The Free Radical]

Release all those jailed and awaiting trial for cannabis related crimes and 30-40% of the beds will fee up immediately. And while doing this, Cyril Ramaphosa can expunge all past cannabis convictions so people with stupid dagga records can take up employment without the lifetime millstone of a criminal record hanging over their necks with the spirit and intention of the 2018 Con Court ruling.

The decriminalization and appropriate regulation of cannabis would free up +/- R3.5-billion in criminal justice, policing and correctional service resources.

The cost to the state for arresting, prosecuting and applying correctional sanctions in respect of each cannabis offender stands at +/- R240 000. This is the wholesale squander of hard earned tax payer funds. Our money.

Use the tens of thousands of beds freed up, and the R3.5 billion saving, to put real scumbags who harm society and commit heinous crimes behind bars where they belong.

These are the rational and right things to do which will have an immediate mitigating effect on prison over population, and at no extra cost to tax payers.

 

[newklear]

Agreed, think they mean lack of space not beds, there are very few beds with mattresses already and has been like that for the last 30 years and more already. It's a hierarchy system in both awaiting trial and sentenced sections of the prisons. Most start off by sleeping next to the urinals and toilets with a lice infested blanket. If you want a mattress/sheet/pillow/bed you either pay or fight for it.

 

[BBSA]

I'm not the one claiming it's down. However, as pointed out above, down doesn't mean it's eliminated, thus we need more prisons for new entrants into the system.

We need less crime by reducing poverty. This can only be achieved by growing our economy. We need to stop pandering to the unions, and implement drastically reforms. No amount of prisoners will solve the crime issue.

 

[Milano]

We need less crime by reducing poverty. This can only be achieved by growing our economy. We need to stop pandering to the unions, and implement drastically reforms. No amount of prisoners will solve the crime issue.

Difficult to demote your trade union allies once they have mutually empowered one another. In fact it is difficult to differentiate the ANC and trade unions. I might go as far as to say that the ANC is basically a trade union umbrella at both party and governance levels.

 

[ForceFate]

We need less crime by reducing poverty. This can only be achieved by growing our economy. We need to stop pandering to the unions, and implement drastically reforms. No amount of prisoners will solve the crime issue.

It takes us back to education and training and how these are managed. FET colleges aren't where they're supposed to be and private higher education isn't any better. There's no oversight on training thus, training providers couldn't be bothered with quality.

Our challenges run deep and our crime rate partly reflects this.

 

[RonSwanson]

The anc have created a prison system that is marginally more comfortable than being free. Zero consequences and in many circumstances, even less consequences. Exactly what did they expect? Something different?

 

[newklear]

The anc have created a prison system that is marginally more comfortable than being free. Zero consequences and in many circumstances, even less consequences. Exactly what did they expect? Something different?

Agreed, also for many going to prison is motivation to better themselves. A sentence in what ever manner allows them to study further and of course full sentences are not always served out for that period.

 

[skusku]

"There was some good news. A total of 2.01 million crimes were recorded in 2019 – down from the 2.09 million recorded in 2018."

How can 2.01 million crimes be good news! Ridiculous!

Bring back the death penalty

 

[ForceFate]

The anc have created a prison system that is marginally more comfortable than being free. Zero consequences and in many circumstances, even less consequences. Exactly what did they expect? Something different?

Until one meets the resident monster (See post #8).

I know 2 young people who were "reformed" by experience of prison life. To this day, they're doing their best to stay away from prison.

 

[Jings]

So here my suggestion.
Turn old mines into prisons.
Build more prisons

then lets hang:
Murderers , child molesters, rapists and any violent criminals.

Also let prisoners do hard labour 10 hours a day to give back to the community. they should be too tired to come up with ideas and gangs in prison. They should be scared to go to prison.

I think hard work would scare a lot of these criminals.

 

[BBSA]

It takes us back to education and training and how these are managed. FET colleges aren't where they're supposed to be and private higher education isn't any better. There's no oversight on training thus, training providers couldn't be bothered with quality.

Our challenges run deep and our crime rate partly reflects this.

Yes, the ruling party has failed us dismally on the education front, but the unions must also take a fair share of blame.

 

[Milano]

"There was some good news. A total of 2.01 million crimes were recorded in 2019 – down from the 2.09 million recorded in 2018."

How can 2.01 million crimes be good news! Ridiculous!

Bring back the death penalty

These crime stats cover the period between 1 April 2018 and March 2019. Yet there were more violent protests in 2018 than during the 13 years prior to 2018. That alone should raise a red flag about the legitimacy of those stats.

 

[WaxLyrical]

Send the quote for new beds to the SAP.

Payment must be deducted from salaries.

 

[Jopie Fourie]

Put them all to work. Bring in steel and have them make their own beds.

 

[BBSA]

Put them all to work. Bring in steel and have them make their own beds.

No, they don't deserve beds. Let them build a consentration camp in the karoo without beds.

 

[Temujin]

WTF you wasting money on beds for them?

 

[quovadis]

Now if the politicians would just stop pillaging the SOEs for a moment they would realise that private prisons are a way better option for politicians and judges the world over to milk the fiscus.