Limpopo – Some inmates at Limpopo’s Matatshe Maximum Prison are still locked up despite being given parole.
The revelations emerged during provincial Safety, Security and Liaison MEC George Phadagi’s two-day anti-crime crusade in Musina and Thohoyandou.
“During his visit to the prison, the MEC observed slight overcrowding mainly because of undocumented foreign nationals and those whose next of kin are not prepared to receive them if they’re released on parole,” said department spokesman Molebatsi Masedi on Wednesday.
Masedi said Phadagi would use the provincial Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, which he chairs, to address the issue of overcrowding in prisons.
When the MEC later interacted with community members, he was told that liquor outlets were mainly responsible for criminal attacks on residents.
“The Limpopo provincial cabinet has since suspended the issuing of liquor trading licences pending the refinement of relevant legislation,” said Phadagi in a statement.
Earlier in this week, the MEC and his entourage visited the Beitbridge border post and the refugee shelter in Musina.
At the refugee centre, he found some overcrowding and poor health conditions.
“There are challenges of overcrowding and health conditions which the MEC (said must) be addressed by the relevant authorities as a matter of urgency,” Masedi said.
The MEC also took note of local concerns about the high rate of rape, murder, business robbery and house burglary in the area.
“This was corroborated by the police… Stakeholders blame foreign nationals, mainly those who are undocumented, for these acts of criminality. The MEC made a … that his department and the police will intensify law enforcement and crime prevention,” said Masedi.
Phadagi said he was generally happy with the crusade “because it shook communities out of their comfort zones and turned them into activists against crime.” – Eric Mashaba, BuaNews
