(a)(i) (aa) A total of 4 136 officials have been infected with COVID-19 as at 23 August 2020.
(bb) A total of 2 336 inmates have been affected by COVID-19 as at 23 August 2020.
(ii) A total of 60 officials and 43 inmates have died due to COVID-19 related illnesses as at 23 August 2020.
(b) The President of South Africa in terms of section 84(2)(j) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, read with section 82(1)(a) of the Correctional Services Act, 1998 (Act No. 111 of 1998) and for the purpose of addressing, managing and combatting the spread of the COVID-19 virus in all Correctional Centres in the Republic, authorised the consideration and placement on parole of certain category of sentenced offenders, who are or would have been incarcerated on 27 April 2020 subject to such conditions as may be approved by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board under whose jurisdiction such sentenced offenders may fall.
The Special Parole Dispensation was announced by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services on 08 May 2020. Approximately 19 000 sentenced offenders who committed non-violent crime and were left with 60 months or less before the minimum detention period (MDP) will be released on parole.
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