[So what? In South Africa, young children have been taught by the ANC to murder adults in the past. Is it any wonder that now children are murderers and criminals because the ANC taught them violence! And the ANC now wants them out of prison too… Not surprising… they can’t have ALL their electorate sitting in prison… Jan]

By Thokozani Mtshali

More than 3 000 children are languishing in South African prisons, despite the country’s “progressive” legislation guaranteeing children’s rights.

Deputy Correctional Services Minister Cheryl Gillwald said 3 300 children between the ages of 13 and 18 were in prisons. Of these, half were awaiting-trial.

She said the departments of correctional services and social development had set up a task team to advise how to accommodate special needs such as those of children.

Gillwald added that at least 200 women were in prison – not because they were a threat but because they could not afford bail.

Inkatha Freedom Party MP Sybil Seaton said vulnerable people like children and women should not be sent to prison.

“A lot of people get unnecessary sentences. Women caught in possession of dagga should not be locked away from their children,” she said, urging alternative sentencing such as community service or correctional supervision.

James Selfe, the Democratic Alliance spokesperson on correctional services, said children had better chances of rehabilitation if they were kept out of prison.

This article was originally published on page 2 of Cape Argus on April 14, 2005

Source: Independent Online (IOL)
URL: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click…/p>